Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV on Sunday renewed his appeal for an end to violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank and called on the international community to advance a two-state solution for a just and lasting peace.
In a post on X, the Pope said an immediate end to violence against the Palestinian civilian population was needed.
I renew my appeal for an end to the ongoing violence against the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank, and I urgently call on the international community to work toward advancing the two-state solution, for a just and lasting peace.
— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) August 16, 2026
The Palestinian Wafa news agency has reported attacks by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank amid the influx of Israeli settlers.
The Pope's remarks came as uncertainty continued over US President Donald Trump's 15-point Gaza peace plan, which Israel has rejected.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that Israel would not withdraw its forces from Gaza until Hamas was genuinely disarmed.
"Israel rejects the 15-point document," Netanyahu said, referring to a proposal endorsed by Hamas in late July, according to Israeli media.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said the Israeli military "will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed, and will continue to thwart threats against our forces and our citizens."
Netanyahu is also facing pressure from far-right coalition partners seeking a fresh cabinet vote to abandon the peace plan. At the same time, he said Israel remained in discussions with Washington over the proposal.
"They have ideas; some of them are acceptable to us, and some are not, and we know how to stand our ground on these matters," he said.
Trump's 15-point framework proposes a phased strategy aimed at ending the Gaza conflict, disarming armed factions, withdrawing Israeli forces and transitioning governance of the territory to a Palestinian technocratic body, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
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Under the proposed roadmap, heavy weaponry, arms depots, military sites and tunnels would be placed under the committee's control. An international stabilisation force would also be deployed to separate Israeli troops from Palestinian-administered areas.
Israeli forces would then withdraw in stages, paving the way for reconstruction and a longer-term political process towards Palestinian self-determination.
Pope Leo XIV's renewed call for a two-state solution comes amid continued violence in the West Bank and uncertainty over efforts to end the conflict in Gaza.
