Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin considered that the attack carried out last Saturday by Hamas on Israel It was “inhumane” but he asked for “proportionality” in legitimate protection and that Israel does not endanger Palestinian citizens who live in the Gaza Strip.

In an interview published this Friday by Vatican media, the Secretary of State noted that “The Holy See expresses its full and firm condemnation” of the Hamas attack and his concern for the men, women, children and elderly held hostage in the Gaza Strip.

But regarding Israel’s response, he added that “a sense of reason must be restored, abandon the blind logic of hatred and reject violence as a solution. It is the right of those who are attacked to defend themselves, but self-defense must also respect the parameter of proportionality.”

“It is right to immediately return the hostages, including those held by Hamas in previous conflicts: in this sense, I strongly renew the vigorous call, repeated by Pope Francis in the last days“But it is also right,” he noted, “that, in self-defense, Israel does not endanger the Palestinian civilian population living in the Gaza Strip.”

He added: “I don’t know what possibilities there may be for dialogue between Israel and Hamas militants, but if there is one, and we hope there is one, it should be carried out immediately and without delay. “This is to avoid further bloodshed, as is happening in the Gaza Strip, where subsequent attacks by the Israeli army have killed many innocent civilians.”

Parolin reiterated the Holy See’s position that the best solution “is the creation of two states that would allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side, in peace and security, meeting the aspirations of the majority of them.”