Pope Francis has raised concerns about whether Israel’s military campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide against the Palestinian people. He cited international experts who suggest that what is happening in Gaza may have the characteristics of a genocide. The pontiff called for a careful investigation to determine if Israel’s actions meet the technical definition of genocide as outlined by international organizations.
Israel has denied the accusations of genocide, stating that it is solely targeting Hamas and other armed groups. The Vatican News reported on the book excerpts where Pope Francis made the comments, but did not issue a direct response to the allegations. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in numerous casualties, with thousands of people killed since the start of Israel’s campaign against Hamas.
Pope Francis, usually neutral in international conflicts, has recently increased his criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza. He has expressed concern over the deaths of Palestinian children and criticized Israel’s airstrikes in Lebanon for going “beyond morality.” The pope has met with former hostages held by Hamas to advocate for their release and resolution of the ongoing conflict.
While the Vatican has not labeled the situation in Gaza as genocide before, there have been previous disputes over whether the pope used the term in private discussions with Palestinians. The international community continues to monitor the situation in Gaza, with ongoing debate over the nature of Israel’s military campaign and its impact on Palestinian civilians.
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