Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and highest ranking prelate in the Holy Land, has said that he would be willing to exchange himself for Israeli children taken hostage by Hamas.
The Islamist group are believed to have taken 199 people, among whom a significant number are children, hostage after their latest assault on Israeli territory.
“If I’m available for an exchange? Anything, if this could bring about the freedom of children, no problem. My absolute willingness,” said the Cardinal in an interview.
“The first thing to do is to try to win the release of the hostages, otherwise there will be no way of stopping (an escalation). We are willing to help, even me personally.”
Pizzaballa confirmed his office has been unable to establish contact with the Islamist terrorist group. “You can’t talk to Hamas. It is very difficult,” he revealed.
Since the recent outbreak of violence in the region, Cardinal Pizzaballa has been vocal in appealing to the relevant authorities for peace, alongside condemning the targeting of innocents.
He has supported calls for IDF forces to allow access for humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip, to the indignation of figures in the Israeli government such as Eli Cohen, the Likud administration’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
An Israeli ground assault on Gaza is reportedly imminent, as 300,000 troops– including reservists– have been mobilised on the border.
Pizzaballa has echoed Pope Francis’ concerns about the potential devastation caused by upcoming reprisals, and was instrumental in allocating Tuesday 17 October as a day of prayer, abstinence, and fasting for peace across the world.
<em>(Getty Images)</em>
