Pope Francis’s Popemobile reborn as medical clinic for Gaza’s children
Once a symbol of faith rolling through the streets of Bethlehem during Pope Francis’s 2014 visit, a converted Mitsubishi popemobile is about to embark on a new mission, this time, as a mobile health clinic delivering urgent medical care to children in the war-torn Gaza Strip. More than a decade after it was last used, the vehicle is being repurposed into what Caritas, the international Catholic relief organization behind the effort, has dubbed a “vehicle of hope.” The initiative, approved by Pope Francis before his passing, comes amid one of the worst humanitarian crises Gaza has faced in recent history. “This is both symbolic and incredibly practical,” said Peter Brune, secretary general of Caritas Sweden, who led the project alongside Anton Asfar of Caritas Jerusalem. “It tells the children of Gaza that peace is possible, that the world remembers them. But more than that, it’s going to actually deliver medical aid to children who are desperate for care.” The mobile clinic is being fitted with essential medical equipment: rapid infection test kits, suture supplies, oxygen tanks, and a refrigerated unit for medication. Once operational, it will support Caritas Jerusalem’s team of around 100 medical staff on the ground. “The health system in Gaza has almost completely collapsed,” Brune said. “This vehicle will be a concrete, life-saving intervention.” Pope Francis, who passed away earlier this year, had long expressed deep concern over the humanitarian fallout in Gaza. In December, after an Israeli airstrike killed seven children from one family, he condemned the attack, saying, “This is cruelty, this is not war.” For much of the conflict, the pontiff made nightly phone calls to Gaza’s only Catholic church, offering solidarity and prayers for the suffering community. “It was close to his heart,” Brune noted. “Since the war began, 3% of Christians in Gaza have been killed.” The pope’s written approval of the popemobile project arrived swiftly after the idea was proposed late last year. It stands now as one of his final acts of mercy, a gesture rooted in his lifelong dedication to the vulnerable. The transformed popemobile is expected to be ready for deployment within a week, pending Israeli permission to enter Gaza. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. “Since March 2nd, no aid has been allowed in,” said Brune. “First children froze to death in winter. Now they’re starving. It’s horrible.” The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages, has since spiraled into a humanitarian disaster. UNICEF reports over 15,000 children killed and nearly one million displaced. Tens of thousands more have been injured, many with no access to care. While Israel cites security concerns and pressure on Hamas as reasons for its blockade, aid groups warn that the restrictions are devastating civilians, especially children. “It is forbidden under international law to use civilians, especially children, as tools in war,” Brune said. “We must not turn suffering into strategy.” Brune hopes the popemobile’s second life will serve as a model for future humanitarian efforts. “Today it’s Gaza. Tomorrow it could be Ukraine or the Congo,” he said. “Wherever humanitarian access is denied, we want the popemobile to become a beacon for compassion and medical relief.” As Gaza continues to endure the agony of war, this once-ceremonial vehicle now promises to become something more profound: a testament to enduring hope and the power of mercy on wheels.
Israel to expand Gaza offensive, plans long-term presence
Israel has announced plans to escalate its military campaign in Gaza with the aim of “conquering” the territory and establishing a permanent military presence, officials confirmed late Sunday following a unanimous vote in the security cabinet. The bold and controversial strategy marks a significant shift in Israel’s stated objectives and is likely to trigger international alarm, as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to spiral. Israeli officials outlined the operation as an “intense offensive” that will include the seizure of territory, forced displacement of Gaza’s population to the south “for their protection,” and “powerful blows against Hamas.” The military is calling up “tens of thousands” of reservists to facilitate the deployment of active-duty soldiers into Gaza, according to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir. More than 70% of Gaza is already under Israeli military control or designated as evacuation zones by Israel. Since the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire in March, bombardments have intensified, and buffer zones have been fortified across the enclave’s borders. A Costly War and a Divided Nation Israel’s ongoing offensive was launched in retaliation to Hamas’s October 2023 surprise attack that left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead, most of them civilians. According to Gaza’s health ministry, the Israeli response has since claimed the lives of at least 52,535 people, the vast majority of them civilians, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under increasing pressure from far-right coalition partners, continues to promote controversial plans such as the potential displacement of Gaza’s population to neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan, a proposal first floated in January by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Humanitarian System Near Collapse Despite Israel’s claims that “enough food” currently exists in Gaza, aid agencies paint a drastically different picture. The United Nations warns that the humanitarian system is on the brink of collapse, with widespread hunger, blocked supply routes, and mass civilian displacement exacerbating the crisis. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) condemned Israel’s proposal to replace existing UN-led aid operations with a militarized network of aid distribution hubs operated by private contractors and guarded by the IDF. “This contravenes fundamental humanitarian principles… and is dangerous,” said an OCHA spokesperson, adding that the plan “further entrenches forced displacement” and puts civilians and aid workers at serious risk. Mounting Political Backlash Hamas labeled Israel’s proposed aid framework “political blackmail,” and blamed the Israeli government for the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. Meanwhile, a coalition of hostage families sharply criticized Netanyahu’s decision to ramp up military operations, warning that it jeopardizes the lives of the 58 hostages still held by Hamas, nearly half of whom are believed to be dead. “The expansion of military operations puts every hostage at grave risk,” the group said in a statement. “It also threatens the lives of our soldiers and deepens the toll on countless Israeli families already carrying the burden of this war.” Overnight airstrikes continued across the territory, with at least 17 people killed in northern Gaza, including women and children, according to al-Shifa hospital staff. Strikes targeted Gaza City, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahiya. Geopolitical Stakes Rise Trump is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE later this month, which may increase diplomatic pressure on Israel to reach a new ceasefire. Trump’s recent remarks, urging Netanyahu to be “good to Gaza”, suggest he may push for limited concessions during the trip, though his alignment with Israel’s hardline strategy remains firm. Observers believe Israel’s public declaration of a full-scale Gaza occupation could be a calculated move to strengthen its negotiating hand in future talks with Hamas and other regional stakeholders. But with lives hanging in the balance and global scrutiny intensifying, the coming weeks may prove decisive in determining whether this war continues or if peace has any chance of returning to the region.
Aid ship bound for Gaza hit by drone strike in international waters, Israel accused
A ship carrying humanitarian aid and international activists to Gaza was attacked by armed drones in international waters off the coast of Malta early Friday morning, severely damaging the vessel and halting its mission, according to its organizers. The ship, Conscience, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was struck at approximately 12:23 a.m. local time, the group said in a statement. The vessel, unarmed and clearly marked as civilian, suffered two drone strikes that ignited a fire and tore a substantial breach in its hull, leaving it without power and at risk of sinking. An image posted online by the coalition showed explosions and flames aboard the vessel. Although no definitive evidence of drone use has been publicly confirmed, Cypriot authorities released photos showing extensive structural damage. There were no casualties reported among the 12 crew members and four passengers, according to the Maltese government, which dispatched a nearby tugboat to assist the stricken vessel. The coalition accused Israel of carrying out the attack. “Israeli ambassadors must be summoned and answer to violations of international law, including the ongoing blockade and the bombing of our civilian vessel in international waters,” the group said. Israel has not commented on the incident. The Conscience departed from the Tunisian port of Bizerte on Tuesday and was en route to pick up additional activists, including Swedish climate advocate Greta Thunberg, near Malta. Thunberg confirmed she was set to board the vessel on Friday. “I was part of the group who was supposed to board that boat today to continue the voyage towards Gaza,” she told Reuters. “This attack caused an explosion and major damage to the vessel, which made it impossible to continue the mission.” The Freedom Flotilla Coalition has a history of attempting to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza. A 2010 mission from Turkey ended in bloodshed when Israeli commandos boarded the Mavi Marmara, killing 10 activists and wounding dozens. Turkish officials confirmed that Turkish nationals were also aboard the Conscience, condemning the latest attack in the “strongest terms.” “This is an attack on a civilian ship in international waters, and we will make every effort to identify the perpetrators and hold them accountable,” Turkey’s foreign ministry stated. The incident comes amid a deepening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The Israeli blockade, in place since October 2023, has tightened in recent months, with no food, fuel, or medicine allowed into the territory. Aid organizations have warned of an impending famine and the total collapse of healthcare and food distribution systems. The International Committee of the Red Cross issued an urgent plea Friday, saying, “Aid must be allowed to enter Gaza. Hostages must be released. Civilians must be protected. Without immediate action, Gaza will descend further into chaos that humanitarian efforts will not be able to mitigate.” Medical supplies for chronic illnesses like cancer and diabetes are nearly nonexistent, and remaining hospitals are overwhelmed. “I don’t know how people are managing,” said Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGOs Network. “They have lost everything.” A United Nations team is currently in Gaza to assess the severity of malnutrition and the risk of famine, as hundreds of thousands remain displaced and desperate. Israeli officials have justified the blockade by accusing Hamas of commandeering aid for its fighters. However, humanitarian organizations on the ground dispute these claims and warn that new Israeli plans to distribute aid through private contractors could violate international law and prove ineffective. The war in Gaza began following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people. Since then, at least 52,418 Palestinians have died, according to Gaza’s health ministry, most of them civilians.
