Pope Francis made a heartfelt plea for an end to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, warning that the violence could escalate into an even greater humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip.

The Pope's comments come amid heightened tensions in the region, with a growing number of civilian casualties on both sides of the conflict.

The Pope also called for more humanitarian aid to be made available to the people of Gaza, who are suffering as a result of the fighting.

"War is always a defeat, it is a destruction of human fraternity. Brothers, stop! Stop!” Francis said after his traditional Angelus prayer in Rome’s Saint Peter’s Square.

“I renew my call for spaces to be opened, for humanitarian aid to continue to arrive and for hostages to be freed,” the 86-year-old pontiff said.