Pope Francis has decried the deaths of Palestinian children in Israeli military strikes in Gaza, calling the bombing of schools, on the “presumption” of striking Hamas militants, “ugly”, Reuters reports.

On the flight back to Rome from Singapore, the pontiff also expressed doubt that either Israel or Hamas, now fighting for eleven months, were seeking to end the conflict.

“I am sorry to have to say this,” he said. “But I do not think that they are taking steps to make peace.”