VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -Pope Leo, whose role in advocating for peace in Gaza has become notably stark since Israel struck the territory's only Catholic church last week, told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday that he opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians.

 

The Vatican said Abbas, who leads the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, had phoned the pope on Monday, three days after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called and expressed regret over the strike on Gaza's Holy Family church.

 

In Monday's conversation with Abbas, Leo condemned the "indiscriminate use of force" and any "forced mass displacement" of people in the Gaza Strip, the Vatican said.

 

Pope speaks against forced mass displacement of Gaza civilians

 

 

Cairo has voiced strong opposition to Israel's plan to establish a so-called "humanitarian city" on the ruins of Rafah in southern Gaza, warning it could trigger a mass exodus toward Egypt's border and further destabilize the region.

 

In a phone call last week with the US Middle East Envoy Steven Witkoff, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty firmly rejected the proposal.

 

Israel reportedly plans to put up a gated camp, dubbed the "humanitarian city", to host an initial 600,000 Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza. Once inside, the Gazans will be prohibited from returning to their homes indefinitely, according to the Israeli proposal.

 

Arab League holds emergency meeting to discuss Gaza humanitarian crisis