VATICAN CITY, March 2 (Reuters) - Pope Benedict on Sunday appealed for an end to the conflict in Gaza, calling on both Israelis and Palestinians to unconditionally halt the violence that has killed more than 100 people.

"Only by showing absolute respect for human life, even if it is that of the enemy, can one hope to give a future of peace and coexistence to both of those peoples who have their roots in the Holy Land," he said in his Sunday address.

"I renew my pressing appeal to the authorities, both Israeli and Palestinian, to stop this spiral of violence, unilaterally, unconditionally," he told pilgrims and tourists in St Peter's Square.

In Ramallah, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suspended peace talks with Israel in response to an Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 100 Palestinians in five days of violence, according to a spokesman.

Israel has vowed to press on with the offensive to curb rocket strikes from Gaza, which have killed one Israeli since the current surge in bloodshed began.

Medical officials said most of those killed in Gaza were civilians. (Editing by Sami Aboudi)

AlertNet news is provided by