BEIRUT: An Israeli strike in the south killed a Lebanese civilian on Wednesday amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
One resident was killed and another wounded when an Israeli drone launched a raid on a house in the town of Ainata in the Bint Jbeil district, said the ministry.
An Israeli drone targeted a bus in the town of Beit Lif, and initial information indicated that there were injuries among its passengers.
Israel’s violations of the ceasefire continued as UN peacekeepers entered the town of Khiam on Wednesday to “inspect the road and verify the Israeli army’s withdrawal.”
The UNIFIL contingent was assessing the adherence of Israeli forces to their commitment to withdraw from the northern and southern neighborhoods of the city.
The move is in preparation for the deployment of the Lebanese Army and the Engineering Regiment to the northern district, where they will conduct an initial clearance of munitions as part of the first phase of their operation in the area.
The Lebanese army is redeploying to some of its previous forward positions south of the Litani River under the ceasefire agreement reached on Nov. 26 between Israel and Hezbollah.
The ceasefire came into effect on Nov. 27 and is generally holding, though both sides have accused the other of repeated violations.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army will deploy in the south alongside UN peacekeepers as the Israeli army withdraws over 60 days. The Israeli army is expected to withdraw from the frontline areas and the second line of villages it penetrated during the ground operation that started on Oct. 1.
The Lebanese army’s bulldozers awaited orders on Wednesday to enter neighborhoods in Khiam to clear roads and assess the remnants of missiles, shells and unexploded ordnance, ensuring the withdrawal of Israeli forces before the deployment of additional army units assigned to the task.
The Israeli forces remained in these villages, where they demolished homes and facilities to render the area uninhabitable.
A military source anticipated that bulldozers and engineering equipment would require time to clear the debris in areas that experienced devastating explosions.
The Israeli military continued its operations on Wednesday morning, demolishing the remaining houses in Khiam and destroying residences in Kfar Kila up to the very last moment.
During this time, Israeli forces in the border area continued their violations.
A contingent of about 15 Israeli personnel raided a residence belonging to the Al-Jouki family in the town of Burj Al-Muluk, conducting a search of the premises.
They interrogated two people in the house and seized their mobile phones.
The forces instructed them to vacate the residence immediately and not to return until further notice.
Israeli army spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, reiterated a reminder to the residents of Lebanon on his social media account about the prohibition of movement south of the following villages and their surroundings: Shebaa, Habbariyeh, Marjayoun, Arnoun, Yahrun, Al-Qantara, Shaqra, Barashit, Yater and Al-Mansouri, until further notice.
This restricted area covers about 60 towns and villages.
The Israeli army prevented residents who did not leave these areas from moving around, and any movements drew gunfire.
In Chamaa, civil defense personnel — working in coordination with the Lebanese army and UNIFIL forces — retrieved the remains of Hezbollah members from under the rubble.
The town witnessed confrontations between the Israeli army and Hezbollah that lasted for days before the ceasefire.
The Civil Defense has been trying to enter the border areas since the ceasefire took effect.
The bodies of Hezbollah members remain unrecovered at the locations where they died.
According to Hezbollah’s estimates, the number of bodies is believed to be in the hundreds.
Samir Geagea, head of the Christian Lebanese Forces party, questioned Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi on Wednesday about the lawlessness at the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria.
The crossing is the only one open for transit traffic in both directions.
“Is it true that some General Security officers are cooperating with a security group from the remnants of Hezbollah to facilitate the crossing of the Assad regime’s supporters into Lebanon?” Geagea asked.
“If this is not true, we demand that it be officially and explicitly announced, with facts proving that the Lebanese state is controlling its borders. However, if it is true, it is unacceptable.
“The lawlessness the Lebanese people have endured due to de facto policies and the complicity or failure of specific official departments must end.
“Punitive measures are needed against anyone who breaches their duties and responsibilities,” Geagea said.
The head of the Change Movement, Elie Mahfoud, and former Lebanese Forces MP, Eddy Abi Lamaa, filed a complaint with the Lebanese judiciary against Assad and his regime’s officials for the “crime of kidnapping Lebanese nationals and playing a role in their disappearance.”
Mahfoud said in front of Beirut’s Palace of Justice: “We presented documented information in the complaint and testimonies of freed prisoners.
“The main demand is issuing an arrest warrant in absentia against Assad and his accomplices. If this does not happen, we will take other steps,” Mahfoud said.
Besides Assad, Abi Lamaa said that the complaint included the Syrian state, National Security Adviser Ali Mamlouk, and interior and defense ministers.
Also on Wednesday, Interior Minister Mawlawi said that 4,883 Syrians had left from Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut since last Sunday after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime.
Mawlawi said that no security personnel affiliated with the regime had crossed into Lebanon.
He said that only people with legal residency in Lebanon or those holding foreign passports or residency permits could enter the country.
The minister also said that nine former Lebanese detainees held in Syrian prisons had returned so far.
The Committee of the Families of Kidnapped and Disappeared in Lebanon has compiled a list of more than 600 people who were arrested either in Lebanon or at the shared border and subsequently taken to Syrian prisons. Some of those names date back to the 1980s.
Syrian authorities have been denying the detention of such people in Syrian prisons for the past two decades.
Israeli drone attack kills civilian in southern Lebanon, several injured
https://arab.news/wwww5
Israeli drone attack kills civilian in southern Lebanon, several injured
- UNIFIL enters border town of Khiam to verify accuracy of Israeli troop pulllout
- Interior minister: ‘4,886 Syrians left via Beirut Airport abroad, and no member of Syrian regime crossed into Lebanon’
Arabs mourn death of Pope Francis, advocate of interfaith dialogue and human dignity
- A day before his death, Pope Francis called in his Easter message for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages
- He was the first pontiff to visit the Gulf when he traveled to the UAE in 2019, where he signed the “Document on Human Fraternity”
LONDON: He preferred to be called “Father” rather than “Your Holiness,” and in his simple white cassock, Pope Francis carried a message of humility far beyond Vatican walls. He washed the feet of migrants, embraced the poor and forsaken, and reminded the world that true power lies in service — not ceremony.
From the barrios of Buenos Aires to the marble corridors of the Holy See, Jorge Mario Bergoglio never lost touch with those on the margins. His papacy redefined what it meant to lead the Catholic Church in the 21st century, making space for both tough conversations and tender compassion.
The death on Monday of Francis, the first pontiff from the Global South and a revolutionary force in the modern Catholic Church, came a day after he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to greet Easter Sunday crowds, despite recovering from a serious illness.
The passing followed a year of declining health. He twice survived life-threatening pneumonia in 2025 and spent more than a month in hospital before being discharged on March 23. He had continued to speak out on global issues almost until the very end.
Elected on March 13, 2013, following Benedict XVI’s resignation, Francis inherited a church in crisis — from widespread clergy abuse scandals to infighting within the Curia, the Holy See’s administrative body.
He was chosen with a clear mandate to restore credibility and accountability, quickly shifting the church’s tone and priorities. His leadership marked a sharp break from his predecessor’s, steering the church toward greater openness, transparency and engagement with global issues.
As the first Latin American, first Jesuit, and first non-European Bishop of Rome since Syrian-born Gregory III in the 8th century, Francis’ rise from modest beginnings in Argentina symbolized a church increasingly reflective of its diverse global flock.
His background profoundly influenced his pastoral mission. Social justice became a cornerstone of his papacy, with a focus on the poor, refugees and marginalized groups.
“He taught us to live the values of the gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized,” Cardinal Farrell said in his Monday statement.
Among the most distinctive aspects of Francis’ papacy was his engagement with the Middle East and the Arab world. His leadership was marked by historic outreach to both Muslim and Christian communities, with a persistent focus on peace and human dignity.
In 2019, he made history as the first pope to visit the Arabian Gulf, traveling to the United Arab Emirates. He later visited Bahrain in 2022. Both trips highlighted his commitment to interfaith dialogue, religious freedom and peaceful coexistence, as he met with regional leaders and addressed human rights concerns.
During his visit to the UAE, the pope and Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayeb, grand imam of Egypt’s Al-Azhar Mosque, signed the “Document on Human Fraternity.” The agreement pledged a lasting partnership to reject violence and extremism.
Francis’ commitment to peace was further highlighted in 2021 with his historic pilgrimage to Iraq, where he met privately with Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, a leading figure in Shiite Islam. This visit marked a significant milestone in interfaith dialogue and reinforced Francis’ efforts for peace and reconciliation in the Middle East.
In December 2024, Francis welcomed Mohammed Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL), to the Vatican, where they discussed mutual cooperation and shared interests.
While his public statements often drew both praise and criticism, they consistently reflected his defense of civilian life and dignity in conflict zones. This advocacy extended to his final days.
On the day before his passing, Francis dedicated part of his Easter message to Palestinians in war-torn Gaza. “I appeal once again,” he said, “for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, for the release of the hostages … and for access to humanitarian aid.”
Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Christian theologian based in Bethlehem, expressed his sorrow over the pope’s death. “Palestinians, and Palestinian Christians in particular, have lost a dear friend today,” he wrote on X.
He praised the late pope’s “true compassion to Palestinians, most notably to those in Gaza during this genocide,” highlighting his consistent outreach to “the Christian community besieged in Gaza on a constant basis, even from his hospital.”
His empathy extended to those caught in conflict. In 2024, he denounced Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “immoral” and “disproportionate,” urging an investigation into whether the actions amounted to genocide. The statement sparked diplomatic tensions with Israel, but Francis remained steadfast.
UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini also mourned the pope’s death, acknowledging his “constant” and “persistent” calls for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
“His voice has contributed to draw the attention to the significant dehumanization of the war in Gaza (and) beyond,” Lazzarini wrote on X. “It was an honor to meet Pope Francis. Deeply grateful for his (and) the Holy See’s support to Palestine refugees (and) UNRWA.”
By consistently advocating for a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, Francis left a legacy as a tireless voice for peace and human dignity, in the Arab world and beyond.
At the Vatican, Francis facilitated unprecedented encounters, including a 2014 prayer summit with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. This demonstrated his belief that dialogue and prayer could lay the foundations for lasting peace.
On Easter Sunday, his prayers extended to the Christian communities in Lebanon and Syria, countries “presently experiencing a delicate transition in their history.” He called on the church to “keep the Christians of the beloved Middle East in its thoughts and prayers.”
The death of Francis has been felt deeply across the region, where his leadership and compassion were revered by many.
Yeghia Tashjian, regional and international affairs cluster coordinator at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, told Arab News: “Pope Francis is often considered a great person by many because of his humility, compassion and focus on social justice.”
He added that the late pope’s humble approach was reflected not only in his title, but also in his actions. “I think most of us will remember him as a humble church leader who always preferred to be called ‘Father’ instead of ‘Your Holiness’,” Tashjian said. “I believe this should be an example to many church leaders in the East.
“Most importantly,” he added, “he was not an elitist and was always concerned for the well-being of the people; this is why in his era there was a strong commitment by the Catholic youth to the church, even in Western countries.”
In his reflections on Francis’ legacy, Tashjian also highlighted the Pope’s deep concern for Lebanon and the wider region. He said: “When it comes to Lebanon and the region, it was always in his prayers. He called for a ceasefire during the war and the end of the war in Gaza; he often criticized political leaders for their lack of commitment to peace.
“I think the Catholic world and the rest of the world will miss such a humble leader. I hope he will be an inspiration for religious leaders around the world,” Tashjian added.
Francis also showed concern for the suffering of Lebanese people after the Beirut port explosion, which killed at least 220 people and injured more than 6,000. In August 2024, he met 30 relatives of the blast’s victims in a private audience at the Vatican and expressed his support for their call for “truth and justice which have not yet arrived.
“All of us know that the issues are complex and difficult, and that opposing powers and interests make their influence felt,” he said. “Yet truth and justice must prevail over all else.”
Moroever, Francis consistently championed Lebanon as an example of religious pluralism and a beacon of peace. On Aug. 26, 2024, he reaffirmed Lebanon’s vocation “to be a land where diverse communities live together in concord, setting the common good above individual advantage; a land where different religions and confessions encounter one another in a spirit of fraternity.”
Syrians, too, feel the loss of Francis, seeing him as an advocate for their plight. Camille Otrakji, a Syrian Canadian analyst, told Arab News: “Behind the scenes, Pope Francis sought to ease the suffering of the Syrian people by quietly urging the Biden administration to acknowledge and respond to their prolonged humanitarian crisis.”
Otrakji also cited some of Francis’ powerful symbolic gestures that resonated deeply in the region. “In 2016, Pope Francis washed and kissed the feet of Muslim migrants, saying ‘we are all children of God’ — a powerful show of support for Syrian and Middle Eastern refugees in Europe.”
He highlighted other moments that resonated with regional Christians, including the pope’s correction of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that Jesus Christ spoke Hebrew. “Pope Francis reminded him that Jesus spoke Aramaic, a language that originated in the ancient region of Syria,” he said.
“In 2015, he signed a treaty that officially recognized Palestine as a state,” Otrakji added.
Arab and Muslim leaders offered their condolences following the Vatican’s announcement of Francis’ death.
On Monday, in a post on X, Al-Issa of the MWL wrote: “Our friendship with the prominent late pontiff had a clear impact on the cooperation between the MWL and the Vatican in serving our shared objectives.
“We commend the late pope for his wisdom, his principled stances, and his positive contributions, particularly concerning the Islamic world and its causes.”
Likewise, the Muslim Council of Elders, headed by Egypt’s Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, extended its condolences to “the leaders of the Catholic Church, our Christian brethren, and all advocates of peace and coexistence worldwide.”
The group released a statement on X, saying Francis “embodied a singular example of compassion and becoming a historic religious figure whose enduring humanitarian legacy will inspire future generations.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also offered his condolences, describing Francis as “a voice of peace, love and compassion.”
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed extended his “deepest condolences to Catholics around the world,” writing on X that the pope “dedicated his life to promoting the principles of peaceful coexistence and understanding.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun delivered a statement on the presidency’s X account, calling Francis’ death “a loss for all humanity, for he was a powerful voice for justice and peace” who called for “dialogue between religions and cultures.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also paid tribute to Francis.
In a statement to Arab News, Muath Alamri, director of the MWL, expressed “deep sorrow” at Francis’ death, calling him “a man of profound humility and wisdom.”
“On behalf of the MWL, I extend our heartfelt condolences to our Catholic friends around the world,” he said. “Pope Francis was a beacon of compassion and a strong advocate for justice and human dignity.”
Alamri praised the pope’s lifelong dedication to service and interfaith dialogue, saying he “will be remembered for his efforts to promote interfaith dialogue in the region and beyond.”
He added that the late pope’s “work to build bridges between communities, promoting harmony and peace among people of all faiths, was a testament to his noble character and his unwavering belief in the power of mutual understanding and cooperation.”
He leaves a legacy of peace, social justice and interfaith dialogue, profoundly impacting the Middle East and inspiring global communities with his commitment to humanity and reconciliation.
Lawyers denounce ‘fabricated’ Tunisia trial of opposition
- Among those sentenced were well-known opposition figures, lawyers and business people. Some have already been in prison for two years while others are in exile or still free
TUNIS: Lawyers and relatives on Monday denounced the hefty sentences handed down to Tunisian opposition figures in last week’s mass trial as “fabricated” and “unfounded,” and said they will appeal.
A court in Tunis in the early hours of Saturday handed down jail terms of up to 66 years to around 40 defendants, including vocal critics of President Kais Saied.
They were accused of “conspiracy against state security” and “belonging to a terrorist group” among other charges, according to their lawyers.
Defense lawyer Samir Dilou said on Monday the trial was “unprecedented in Tunisia” as “it handed the defendants a total of 892 years in prison.”
He said key evidence in the case was still missing, as lawyers had complained that they did not have full access to the case file.
“They still haven’t told us how the defendants conspired against the state,” Dilou told journalists.
He said an appeal could be filed as early as Tuesday.
Among those sentenced were well-known opposition figures, lawyers and business people. Some have already been in prison for two years while others are in exile or still free.
Several were arrested in February 2023, after which Saied labelled them “terrorists.”
Abdennasser Mehri, another defense lawyer, called the trial a “blatant violation of the law.”
“It’s a fabricated, unfounded case with a plan set in advance,” he said. “The scales of justice are broken.”
Dilou said Ahmed Souab, also a defense lawyer, was arrested early Monday after police raided his home.
Local media said he was accused of “threatening to commit terrorist crimes” in a statement made on Saturday after the trial, criticizing political pressure judges were allegedly under.
Online videos showed Souab saying that “knives are not on the necks of detainees, but on the neck of the judge issuing the ruling.”
Souab, a former judge, is expected to remain in detention “for five days and he won’t be allowed to communicate with his lawyers for 48 hours,” Dilou told AFP.
Human Rights Watch said on Saturday the court “did not give even a semblance of a fair trial” to the defendants.
Defense lawyer Dalila Msaddek said the trial was used “to lump together everyone they wanted to get rid of.”
Politicians Issam Chebbi and Jawhar Ben Mbarek of the opposition National Salvation Front coalition, as well as lawyer Ridha BelHajj and activist Chaima Issa, were sentenced to 18 years behind bars.
Activist Khayam Turki was handed a 48-year term and businessman Kamel Eltaief received the harshest penalty — 66 years in prison, according to lawyers.
Some defendants are abroad and were tried in absentia, like French intellectual Bernard Henri-Levy who received a 33-year jail term, lawyers said.
Since Saied launched a power grab in the summer of 2021 and assumed total control, rights advocates and opposition figures have decried a rollback of freedoms in the North African country where the 2011 Arab Spring began.
RSF shelling kills over 30 in besieged Sudanese city
- Sunday’s attack involved ‘heavy artillery shelling’ and targeted El-Fasher’s residential neighborhoods
PORT SUDAN: Paramilitary shelling of Sudan’s besieged city of El-Fasher, in the western region of Darfur, has killed more than 30 civilians and wounded dozens more, activists said on Monday.
The attack, which took place on Sunday, involved “heavy artillery shelling” and targeted the city’s residential neighborhoods, said the local resistance committee, one of hundreds of volunteer groups coordinating aid across Sudan.
Since April 2023, the war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed tens of thousands, uprooted 13 million, and created what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
El-Fasher, the state capital of North Darfur, remains the last major city in the vast Darfur region that the paramilitary group has not conquered.
Last week, the RSF launched a renewed offensive on the city and two nearby displacement camps — Zamzam and Abu Shouk — killing more than 400 people and displacing some 400,000, according to the UN.
In a bloody ground offensive, the RSF took control of Zamzam camp, where aid workers say up to 1 million people were sheltering.
According to the UN, most of the displaced fled just north, to El-Fasher city itself, or 60 km west to the small town of Tawila.
By Thursday, more than 150,000 people had arrived in El-Fasher, while another 180,000 had fled to Tawila, the UN’s migration agency has said.
Humanitarian aid is nearly nonexistent in both famine-threatened towns.
On Monday, the UN’s humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, described the situation in the region as “horrifying.”
He said he had spoken by phone with army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his rival paramilitary commander Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who committed to giving “full access to get aid in.”
Throughout the war, both the army and the RSF have been accused of using starvation as a weapon of war against civilians.
International aid agencies have long warned that a full-scale RSF assault on El-Fasher could lead to devastating urban warfare and a new wave of mass displacement.
UNICEF has described the situation as “hell on earth” for at least 825,000 children trapped in and around El-Fasher.
Following the army’s recapture of the capital Khartoum last month, the RSF has intensified efforts to seize El-Fasher, a strategic target for the paramilitary to consolidate its hold on Darfur.
The RSF already controls nearly all of the vast region, about the size of France, and parts of the south.
The army holds the country’s center, east, and north.
However, the UN warned of a catastrophic humanitarian situation as the fighting escalated.
“The humanitarian community in Sudan is facing critical and intensifying operational challenges in North Darfur,” Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, said on Sunday.
She added that “despite repeated appeals, humanitarian access to El-Fasher and surrounding areas remains dangerously restricted,” warning that the lack of access was increasing the vulnerability of hundreds of thousands of people.”
Medical charity Doctors Without Borders has called for aid airdrops into the city in the face of access restrictions.
Saudi, Middle East, global leaders offer condolences following Pope Francis’ death
- Countries across the region sent their condolences to the Vatican City
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent cables of condolences on the death of Pope Francis on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Muslim World League secretary-general Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who met the Pope at the Vatican in December 2024, told Arab News that their friendship had strengthened cooperation between the League and the Vatican in “shared goals ... championing just humanitarian causes and promoting the values of coexistence and global peace, in the face of the ideas and practices of religious and civilizational conflict and strife.”
The Pope was a man of “wisdom, just stances, and positive contributions, particularly to the Islamic world and its causes,” Al-Issa said.
The Muslim Council of Elders, headed by Egypt’s Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayyeb, also mourned Pope Francis’ passing and extended their condolences to “the leaders of the Catholic Church, our Christian brethren, and all advocates of peace and coexistence worldwide.”
Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed co-authored the historic Document on Human Fraternity, widely regarded as one of the most significant documents in modern human history.
“Pope Francis devoted his life to serving humanity and advancing the values of dialogue, tolerance, coexistence, peace, and human fraternity while he also tirelessly supported the vulnerable, needy, refugees, and the displaced, embodying a singular example of compassion and becoming a historic religious figure whose enduring humanitarian legacy will inspire future generations,” the group said in a statement on X.
Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi also offered his condolences following the death of Pope Francis on Monday.
“Pope Francis was a voice of peace, love and compassion,” said El-Sisi.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, President of the UAE, said Francis dedicated his life to promoting the principles of peaceful coexistence and understanding.
“I extend my deepest condolences to Catholics around the world on the passing of Pope Francis, who dedicated his life to promoting the principles of peaceful coexistence and understanding. May he rest in peace,” said Sheikh Mohamed via statment on X.
I extend my deepest condolences to Catholics around the world on the passing of Pope Francis, who dedicated his life to promoting the principles of peaceful coexistence and understanding. May he rest in peace.
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) April 21, 2025
Prime minister of UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum said Pope Francis was a great leader whose compassion and commitment to peace touched countless lives.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis @Pontifex , a great leader whose compassion and commitment to peace touched countless lives. His legacy of humility and interfaith unity will continue to inspire many communities around the world . pic.twitter.com/5LwoJq2Hxr
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 21, 2025
In a statement on X, Sheikh Mohammed said “his legacy of humility and interfaith unity will continue to inspire many communities around the world.”
Jordan’s King Abdullah II, on X, meanwhile said: “Deepest condolences to our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. Pope Francis was admired by all as the Pope of the People. He brought people together, leading with kindness, humility, and compassion. His legacy will live on in his good deeds and teachings.”
Deepest condolences to our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. Pope Francis was admired by all as the Pope of the People. He brought people together, leading with kindness, humility, and compassion. His legacy will live on in his good deeds and teachings pic.twitter.com/6Qlaj6QTCH
— عبدالله بن الحسين (@KingAbdullahII) April 21, 2025
Lebanon’s Christian President Joseph Aoun mourned the death on Monday of Pope Francis, a “dear friend and strong supporter” of the crisis-hit multi-confessional country.
“We will never forget his repeated calls to protect Lebanon and preserve its identity and diversity,” Aoun – the Arab world’s only Christian president – said in a statement on the presidency’s X account, calling Francis’s death “a loss for all humanity, for he was a powerful voice for justice and peace” who called for “dialogue between religions and cultures”.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas meanwhile paid tribute to Pope Francis, calling him a “faithful friend of the Palestinian people,” the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.
Palestinian Christians in Gaza on Monday mourned the death of the Pope, who had maintained close and consistent video contact with the small Christian community in the territory throughout the ongoing war.
Since the outbreak of fighting between Israel and Hamas, Francis had regularly called Gaza’s Christians, often several times a week, offering prayers, encouragement, and solidarity.
“Today, we lost a faithful friend of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,” Abbas said, noting that Pope Francis “recognized the Palestinian state and authorized the Palestinian flag to be raised in the Vatican.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hailed Pope Francis for his efforts to further dialogue between different faiths.
Iran also offered its condolonces. Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised the deceased pope on Monday as “a man of deep faith and boundless compassion.”
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto on Monday expressed condolences over the death of Pope Francis.
“The Pope’s message of simplicity, pluralism, favoring the poor and caring for others will always be an example for all of us,” the president said in an Instagram post.
Grief-stricken Argentines massed at Buenos Aires Cathedral early Monday to collectively mourn their late pontiff, compatriot and hero, Pope Francis.
In his final years, Francis had often tussled with political leaders, including Argentina’s current libertarian president, Javier Milei.
But there was a rare sense of political unity Monday in what is still a deeply polarized nation, with even Milei too acknowledging that his political differences with the late pontiff “today seem minor,” as he prepared to decree seven days of national mourning.
GALLERY: Pope Francis: The world mourns
Pope Francis, the first Latin American leader of the Roman Catholic Church died after suffering from pneumonia.
In 2019, Pope Francis was the first pontiff to lead a mass in the Middle East, more specifically the UAE.
Francis charted new relations with the Muslim world by visiting the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected pope on March 13, 2013, surprising many Church watchers who had seen the Argentine cleric, known for his concern for the poor, as an outsider.
He sought to project simplicity into the grand role and never took possession of the ornate papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors, saying he preferred to live in a community setting for his “psychological health.”
Gaza civil defense describes medic killings as ‘summary executions’
- Israel also accused of seeking to ‘circumvent’ its obligations under international law
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Gaza’s civil defense agency on Monday accused the Israeli military of carrying out “summary executions” in the killing of 15 rescue workers last month, rejecting the findings of an internal probe by the army.
“The video filmed by one of the paramedics proves that the Israeli occupation’s narrative is false and demonstrates that it carried out summary executions,” Mohammed Al-Mughair, a civil defense official, said, a day after an Israeli army probe denied any execution-style killings. He also accused Israel of seeking to “circumvent” its obligations under international law.
The Palestine Red Crescent also rejected the findings of an Israeli military investigation that blamed operational failures for the killing of 15 Gaza emergency service workers, denouncing the report as “full of lies.”
“The report is full of lies. It is invalid and unacceptable, as it justifies the killing and shifts responsibility to a personal error in the field command when the truth is quite different,” Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson for the Red Crescent, said.
