Pope Francis Calls for Global Prayer Amidst Iran-Israel Tensions
On October 3, Pope Francis urged people worldwide to participate in a day of prayer and fasting for peace on October 7. This date marks the anniversary of Hamas’s attacks on Israel. The Pope shared his message on social media, encouraging everyone to pray together for global peace.
Escalation in the Middle East
Recently, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released footage showing Iranian missiles targeting Jerusalem, a city sacred to Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The IDF highlighted the threat posed by the Iranian regime to all people.
International Reactions
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin condemned Iran’s aggression, while President Joe Biden discussed the situation with G7 leaders, emphasizing the US’s strong commitment to Israel’s security. Biden mentioned potential new sanctions against Iran.
India’s Perspective
Former Israeli Ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon, stressed the importance of India monitoring the situation due to its strategic interests. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s quick response, reaffirming India’s commitment to peace.
Military Response
The US military coordinated with Israeli forces to defend against the missile attacks, with US Naval destroyers assisting in intercepting the missiles. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Iran’s actions a “big mistake” and vowed consequences. IDF spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari described the attack as a “severe and dangerous escalation,” promising a response.
Doubts Revealed
Pope Francis -: Pope Francis is the leader of the Catholic Church, which is a large group of Christians around the world. He often speaks about peace and helping others.
Global Prayer -: A global prayer is when people from all over the world pray together at the same time for a common cause, like peace.
Iran-Israel Tensions -: Iran and Israel are two countries in the Middle East that have disagreements and conflicts. Tensions mean that the situation between them is very serious and could lead to more problems.
Hamas -: Hamas is a group that operates in the region of Palestine and has had conflicts with Israel. They are known for their attacks on Israel.
Israel Defense Forces -: The Israel Defense Forces, or IDF, are the military forces of Israel. They protect the country and its people.
Iranian Missiles -: Missiles are weapons that can be launched to hit targets far away. Iranian missiles mean these weapons are from Iran.
Sanctions -: Sanctions are penalties or restrictions that one country puts on another to try to change its behavior, like stopping trade or financial transactions.
Former Israeli Ambassador to India -: An ambassador is a person who represents their country in another country. Daniel Carmon used to be the ambassador from Israel to India.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu -: Benjamin Netanyahu is a political leader in Israel. As Prime Minister, he is responsible for making important decisions for the country.
