ROME

Pope Francis on Wednesday reiterated his appeal for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

"I renew my appeal for the exhausted and suffering civilian population to be allowed access to humanitarian aid and for the hostages to be released immediately," he said during his weekly General Audience in the Vatican.

The pontiff also expressed his “deep regret” for the staff members of the World Central Kitchen charity killed while engaged in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza and reassured of his prayers for them and their families.

On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes killed seven aid workers of the charity in the Strip, who were delivering food to the starving population of the war-torn enclave.

The victims are three British nationals, an Australian, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian.

Reflecting on the war in the Holy Land, the pope also lamented the tragic news that continues to come from the Middle East.