Pope Francis has once again condemned Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, following a recent outcry from an Israeli government minister regarding his comments on potential genocide against the Palestinian people.
During his annual Christmas address to Catholic cardinals on Saturday, the Pope referred to airstrikes that occurred the previous day, which reportedly killed at least 25 Palestinians.
“Yesterday, children were bombed. This is cruelty. This is not war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart,” the Pope stated, emphasizing the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict.
The escalation of violence began on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian militants attacked southern Israeli communities, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of over 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas, which has led to the deaths of more than 45,000 people in Gaza, according to local authorities.
Israel maintains that a significant portion of the casualties are militants and insists it is attempting to minimize civilian harm. However, the situation remains dire, with nearly the entire population of Gaza displaced and much of the territory in ruins, while Hamas continues to reject Israeli claims of targeting militants embedded in civilian areas.
