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Pope Francis Reiterates Condemnation of Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – On Saturday, Pope Francis criticized Israeli airstrikes in Gaza once again, following a public rebuke from an Israeli minister over the pontiff’s remarks regarding the potential classification of the military actions as genocide against the Palestinian people. This comes amid rising tensions and ongoing conflict in the region.
During his annual Christmas address to Catholic cardinals overseeing the Vatican’s various departments, the pope alluded to recent Israeli airstrikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 25 Palestinians. “Yesterday, children were bombed,” he stated, adding, “This is cruelty. This is not war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart.”
Typically cautious about expressing overt bias in conflicts, Pope Francis has increased his vocal criticism of Israel’s military actions against Hamas in recent months. He previously mentioned in book excerpts released last month that certain international authorities believe “what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide.”
In response to the pope’s comments, Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli issued a pointed critique in an open letter published in the Italian newspaper Il Foglio. He accused the pope of trivializing the concept of genocide with his statements.
Additionally, Pope Francis highlighted the situation regarding the Catholic bishop of Jerusalem, who attempted to visit Catholics in Gaza but was reportedly blocked from entering the territory. The patriarch’s office declined to comment on the pope’s statements about this denial of entry.
However, Israeli military sources confirmed that the patriarch’s entry had been sanctioned, with plans for him to enter Gaza on Sunday, contingent upon security conditions. Aid from the patriarch’s office had already reached Gaza last week, as part of ongoing efforts to support the region’s Christian population.
Israel maintains that it works collaboratively with the Christian community to facilitate aid and support for the remaining Christians in Gaza, including efforts for their relocation to a third country when necessary.
The current conflict escalated after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israeli territories on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of over 250 hostages taken into Gaza. In retaliation, Israel has initiated a military campaign that, according to reports from the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, has led to more than 45,000 fatalities, primarily among civilians, and has caused widespread displacement and destruction across the enclave.
While Israel asserts that a significant portion of those killed are militants and emphasizes its efforts to minimize civilian casualties, it contends that the nature of the urban environment complicates these efforts, with Hamas allegedly operating within civilian-populated areas. Hamas, however, disputes these claims.
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