Pope condemns Gaza violence, says civilians suffer

VATICAN CITY, Nov 5 (Reuters) Pope Benedict today condemned the recent spate of violence in Gaza and said he felt particularly close to civilians suffering the consequences.

Speaking to pilgrims and tourists in St Peter's Square for his weekly Sunday blessing, he also called for a return to direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians to put an end to the bloodletting.

Israeli forces have killed 47 people, more than half of them gunmen, in a five-day operation in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical officials said.

''It is with deep worry that I am following the news about the grave deterioration of the situation in Gaza and I want to express my closeness to the civilian populations who are suffering the consequences of acts of violence,'' he said from his window overlooking the square.

He asked for prayers so that God would ''enlighten Israeli and Palestinian authorities as well as those of nations which have a particular responsibility in the region...'' The Pope said that all leaders should ''work to stop the bloodshed, multiply initiatives for humanitarian aid and support the immediate resumption of direct, serious and concrete negotiations''.

The Israeli operation, mainly focused on the town of Beit Hanoun, not far from the border, is one of the biggest since Israel's army and Jewish settlers pulled out of Gaza last year after 38 years of occupation.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said Israel's assault on rocket-launching squads and gunmen would not be open-ended but declined to say when it would finish.

REUTERS SP PM1742