Pope Francis has called for an investigation into whether Israel’s military actions in Gaza constitute genocide. This marks his strongest criticism of Israel’s actions in the ongoing conflict.
In an excerpt from his upcoming book, published by La Stampa on Sunday, the Pope stated that the situation in Gaza “has the characteristics of a genocide.” He urged the international community to carefully investigate and determine if the events fit the technical definition of genocide outlined by international experts and organizations.
The Israeli foreign ministry has not responded to the Pope’s comments, though Israel has consistently rejected genocide accusations.
While Pope Francis has typically avoided taking sides in conflicts, focusing instead on peace and de-escalation, his remarks indicate growing criticism of Israel’s actions. In September, he condemned the deaths of Palestinian children and criticized Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.
Though Pope Francis has refrained from publicly calling the Gaza conflict genocide until now, there was controversy earlier when Palestinian representatives claimed he used the term privately. The Vatican later denied this.
The Vatican has not officially commented on the Pope’s latest statement, but it acknowledged the excerpts, including his genocide remarks, on its news website.
Last week, Pope Francis met with former hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, advocating for the release of others still detained.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is currently reviewing a case filed by South Africa in December, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention. While the ICJ directed Israel in January to prevent genocidal acts by its military, it has yet to deliver a verdict on whether genocide has occurred in Gaza.
Leave a Reply