Biden held talks with allies on the war between Israel and Hamas, but also with Pope Francis

(Patria) - US President Joe Biden on Sunday intensified his engagement in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, holding phone calls with the leaders of Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy, following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Reuters reported.

The White House reported separate calls between Biden and Western leaders, Netanyahu, and Pope Francis, amid growing fears that the Israel-Hamas war could escalate into a wider Middle Eastern conflict.

It was not immediately clear why Biden's call to Western leaders did not include Japan. These
countries together constitute the Group of Seven advanced economies. G7 finance ministers met in Morocco earlier this month and issued a statement.

Biden convened a virtual G7 meeting following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

US President Joe Biden and Pope Francis discussed "the need to prevent escalation in the region and to work towards lasting peace in the Middle East," the White House said, according to Reuters.

The Vatican had previously said the call, which lasted about 20 minutes, was "focused on conflict situations in the world and the need to identify paths to peace".

Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing over 1,400 people. Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza, part of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel and home to 2.3 million people. Gaza has been politically governed by Hamas since 2007. More than 4,700 people have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, according to Palestinian officials.

In his conversation with Pope Francis, Biden, who is Catholic, condemned Hamas's attack and
affirmed the need to protect civilians in Gaza, the White House said. They also discussed Biden's recent visit to Israel and efforts to deliver food, medicine, and other humanitarian aid to Gaza, the White House stated.

The Pope has repeatedly called for the release of hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack.

Earlier in the day, Francis told the crowd in St. Peter's Square that he was deeply saddened by the "dire situation in Gaza," where an Anglican hospital and a Greek Orthodox church had been bombed.

"Brothers, stop," Pope Francis said.