Pope Francis. Photo: UNN.
Pope Francis has once again criticised Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, in particular, condemning air strikes that, according to him, affect the most vulnerable – children. This was reported by Time Ukraine Israel, citing Cursorinfo.
In his speech, delivered during the traditional Christmas address to the cardinals who head the Vatican’s departments, the pontiff emphasised:
“Yesterday, children were bombed. This is cruelty. This is not a war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart.”
These words were a reaction to the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, where Israel’s military operation against the Hamas group continues. The Pope, as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, usually avoids taking a clear position in international conflicts, but recently he has been speaking out more and more often about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Criticism from Israel
The pontiff’s remarks provoked a strong reaction from the Israeli government. In an open letter published on 20 December in the Italian newspaper Il Foglio, Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Shikli accused the Pope of “trivialising” the concept of genocide. He stated that comparing the Israeli military operation to genocide is inappropriate and distorts the historical meaning of the term.
The Israeli side has repeatedly stressed that the war, which began on 7 October 2023, was provoked by a Hamas attack. The militants, under the influence of drugs, attacked the southern regions of Israel, killing about 1,200 people, including civilians. Another 251 people were taken hostage, and acts of cruelty and sexual violence accompanied the attacks.
Debate on the term “genocide”
The debate over Pope Francis’ statement on whether the military action in the Gaza Strip is a form of “genocide” deserves special attention. This issue resonated with the international community and caused a polarisation of opinion.
As a reminder, the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues amid growing humanitarian losses, and the international community is calling for a ceasefire and diplomatic solutions.
