Saturday, 21 December, 2024
Pope Francis has for the first time addressed claims of Israel’s alleged "genocide" of Palestinians in Gaza, calling for a thorough investigation into whether Israel's actions meet the legal definition of genocide.
In excerpts from his forthcoming book, Hope Never Disappoints. Pilgrims Towards a Better World, the pope states, "According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide." He urges further study to determine if the situation aligns with the technical definition established by jurists and international organizations.
The pope’s comments represent his most direct intervention in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which was ignited by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. In his remarks, he highlighted the significant toll on civilian lives in Gaza, with Hamas-run health ministries reporting at least 43,846 deaths, most of whom are civilians.
This is the first time Pope Francis has publicly mentioned "genocide" in relation to the Israeli military's operations, though he did not explicitly endorse the term. He has consistently voiced concern over the number of casualties in Gaza but had refrained from labeling the violence as genocide until now.
The pope's call for an investigation comes amid mounting international scrutiny of Israel's military tactics in Gaza. Recently, a United Nations Special Committee concluded that Israel's actions in Gaza fit the characteristics of genocide, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, a judgment that has drawn criticism from Israel’s key ally, the United States.
South Africa has also filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, with support from several countries, including Turkey, Spain, and Mexico.
Pope Francis has also consistently called for the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack, which resulted in 1,206 deaths in Israel, most of them civilians. As of now, 97 hostages remain in Gaza, 34 of whom Israel says are dead.
On Thursday, the pope met with 16 former hostages who had been freed after months of captivity in Gaza, highlighting his ongoing calls for peace and justice in the region.
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Pope Francis has for the first time addressed claims of Israel’s alleged "genocide" of Palestinians in Gaza, calling for a thorough investigation into whether Israel's actions meet the legal definition of genocide.
In excerpts from his forthcoming book, Hope Never Disappoints. Pilgrims Towards a Better World, the pope states, "According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide." He urges further study to determine if the situation aligns with the technical definition established by jurists and international organizations.
The pope’s comments represent his most direct intervention in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which was ignited by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. In his remarks, he highlighted the significant toll on civilian lives in Gaza, with Hamas-run health ministries reporting at least 43,846 deaths, most of whom are civilians.
This is the first time Pope Francis has publicly mentioned "genocide" in relation to the Israeli military's operations, though he did not explicitly endorse the term. He has consistently voiced concern over the number of casualties in Gaza but had refrained from labeling the violence as genocide until now.
The pope's call for an investigation comes amid mounting international scrutiny of Israel's military tactics in Gaza. Recently, a United Nations Special Committee concluded that Israel's actions in Gaza fit the characteristics of genocide, accusing Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, a judgment that has drawn criticism from Israel’s key ally, the United States.
South Africa has also filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, with support from several countries, including Turkey, Spain, and Mexico.
Pope Francis has also consistently called for the release of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack, which resulted in 1,206 deaths in Israel, most of them civilians. As of now, 97 hostages remain in Gaza, 34 of whom Israel says are dead.
On Thursday, the pope met with 16 former hostages who had been freed after months of captivity in Gaza, highlighting his ongoing calls for peace and justice in the region.
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