Overview

• Pope Francis condemned Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that reportedly killed seven children, describing the attacks as 'cruelty' and 'not war' during his annual Christmas address.
• Israel's Foreign Ministry criticized the Pope's comments as 'disconnected' from the reality of its fight against Hamas, accusing him of applying 'double standards.'
• The Israeli government emphasized that its military efforts target Hamas militants, who it accuses of using civilians as human shields, while trying to minimize harm to innocents.
• The Pope's remarks follow weeks of heightened criticism of Israel's military campaign, including his previous suggestion to investigate whether the situation in Gaza constitutes genocide, a claim Israel rejects.
• The conflict, which began with Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, has resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths and significant displacement, according to Gaza health authorities and UN-verified data.