Pope Francis criticized Israeli airstrikes in Gaza on Saturday, particularly the bombing of children. He called the attack on children “cruelty, not war,” after reports that 25 Palestinians, including children, were killed in an airstrike on Friday.
The Pope has been more outspoken about the conflict in Gaza, especially after suggesting that the violence might be considered genocide. Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli disagreed, accusing the Pope of misusing the term “genocide.”
Israel’s foreign ministry defended its military actions, stating that their targets are Hamas, who they claim use civilians as shields. They expressed regret for innocent casualties but argued that Hamas intentionally puts civilians in danger.
Additionally, the Pope revealed that the Catholic Bishop of Jerusalem was denied entry to Gaza, though Israel later confirmed he could enter on Sunday, pending security checks.
The conflict began with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. In response, Israel’s campaign in Gaza has led to over 45,000 deaths, mainly civilians, according to Gaza authorities. Israel argues that many of these casualties are fighters, but acknowledges the difficulty of avoiding civilian harm in urban areas.
