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5mo ago

Pope Francis Denounces Gaza Airstrikes as 'Cruelty'; Israel Rebukes Remarks

The Pope's criticism of Israeli airstrikes killing children prompts sharp responses from Israeli officials, highlighting ongoing tensions in the Gaza conflict.

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Le pape François a condamné samedi la «cruauté» d’une frappe aérienne israélienne, après la mort de sept enfants d’une même famille palestinienne à Gaza annoncée la veille par la Défense civile du territoire
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A view of debris of destroyed buildings as the scale of destruction, caused by Israeli attacks, comes to surface following the withdrawal of Israeli army in Khan Yunis, Gaza. (Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/ Anadolu via Getty Images)

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.