Pope Francis pleaded Sunday for an end to the war in Gaza amid fears it could widen and called for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Gaza Strip.

"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.

Operation Aqsa Typhoon, launched by Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, continues for the 17th consecutive day in response to Israeli Occupation violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, which have been ongoing for decades.

In retaliation, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) has launched a campaign against the Gaza Strip, conducting a series of airstrikes in various areas.

The alarm has grown about a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the Israeli Occupation has cut off water, food and power.

A first trickle of aid entered the besieged Strip Saturday, but UN officials said the 20 trucks permitted to cross were not enough given the "catastrophic" humanitarian situation for 2.4 million people.

Two US captives were released Friday out of nearly 200 people who are currently still being held by Hamas.