22nd December 2024 – (Vatican City) Pope Francis has once again condemned Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, following sharp criticism from an Israeli government minister regarding the pontiff’s comments on the potential classification of the military offensive as genocide against the Palestinian people. During his annual Christmas address to Catholic cardinals on Saturday, Francis referenced the recent airstrikes that killed at least 25 Palestinians, stating, “Yesterday, children were bombed. This is cruelty. This is not war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart.”
Traditionally cautious in his remarks during conflicts, the pope has increasingly vocalised his concerns about Israel’s military actions against Hamas. Excerpts from a forthcoming book revealed that he cited international experts asserting that the situation in Gaza exhibits characteristics of genocide.
Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli responded to the pope’s remarks in an open letter published in the Italian newspaper Il Foglio, labelling the comments as a “trivialisation” of the term genocide. The Israeli foreign ministry reiterated that the country is defending itself against Hamas, asserting that militants use civilians as shields while committing acts of violence against Israeli citizens. “Unfortunately, the Pope has chosen to ignore all of this,” the ministry stated, emphasising the tragedy of any innocent life lost in conflict.
In his address, Francis also revealed that the Catholic bishop of Jerusalem had attempted to enter Gaza to visit local Catholics but was denied access. The patriarch’s office declined to comment on the pope’s assertion regarding the denied entry.
The ongoing conflict was ignited on 7th October, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of over 250 hostages. In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign has reportedly claimed the lives of more than 45,000 people in Gaza, the majority of whom are civilians, while displacing nearly the entire population and leaving extensive destruction in its wake.
