Biden, Pope Francis discuss Israel, Gaza in rare call

President Biden and Pope Francis spoke in a rare phone call Sunday about the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, stressing the need to prevent an escalation of the conflict and steps towards peace in the Middle East.

Condemning the attacks by Hamas, which is recognized by the U.S. and several other countries as a terrorist organization, Biden spoke with the pontiff about his trip to Israel and efforts to guarantee the delivery of food, medicine and humanitarian aid to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, according to a readout from the White House.

The two leaders spoke about preventing the conflict’s escalation in the region and how to “work toward a durable peace in the Middle East,” the White House said.

Citing the Holy See Press Office, Vatican News reported the conversation lasted around 20 minutes and highlighted the “need to identify paths of peace.”

Biden is only the second Catholic U.S. president and had a private audience with Francis at the Vatican in 2021.

Their conversation comes just over two weeks since Hamas launched attacks that killed more than 1,400 people in Israel, including hundreds of civilians in their homes, at a bus stop and at a music festival.

Israeli forces quickly responded with a bombardment of Gaza that has so far killed more than 4,600 Palestinians and injured more than 14,000 others, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported Sunday.

While launching hundreds of airstrikes, Israel also cut off food, water, electricity and medicine to the region, intensifying the humanitarian crisis in the area.

Israel ordered more than 1.1 million Palestinians to travel to the southern half of the Gaza Strip more than a week ago, ahead of an anticipated ground assault. However, many people in Gaza said Israel still attacked that portion of the enclave. Hamas has told residents not to leave and to stay in their homes. 

Meanwhile, Israeli forces Sunday reportedly claimed Hamas has taken 212 people hostage, a slight increase from the previous estimate of at least 203 hostages last week. The upped hostage count comes days after the militant group released two American hostages.

Earlier this month, Francis called on Hamas to free hostages abducted from Israel and expressed his concern over Israel’s siege of the Gaza Strip.

In Biden’s visit to Tel Aviv last week, the president reaffirmed the U.S.’s “unwavering” support of Israel while announcing an agreement to allow humanitarian aid to move from Egypt to Gaza.

Trucks carrying aid have since entered Gaza through the Rafah crossing — Gaza’s only connection to Egypt — which had shut down in the wake of Israeli airstrikes.

Biden also confirmed the U.S. will fund $100 million to assist those living in Gaza and the West Bank.