Pope Francis spoke out on Saturday, condemning Israel’s bombing of children in Gaza and calling it an act of “cruelty.” His comments came after an Israeli airstrike killed seven children from the same family.
“Yesterday, they didn’t allow the Patriarch of Jerusalem into Gaza as they had promised,” the pope said. “Yesterday children were bombed. This is cruelty, not war. I say this because it deeply moves my heart.”
Israel responded strongly to the criticism, accusing the pope of using double standards. A spokesperson for Israel’s Foreign Ministry said his comments were “especially disappointing” and claimed they ignored the real context of Israel’s fight in a war it did not start, referring to the events of October 7.
“Enough with the double standards and singling out the Jewish state and its people,” the spokesperson added.
Arrogance of the Invader
Earlier on Friday, Gaza’s civil defense agency reported that an Israeli airstrike had killed 10 members of a single family in northern Gaza, including seven children.
The 88-year-old pope has repeatedly called for peace since the conflict began. In recent weeks, he has spoken more firmly against Israel’s actions. In late November, he criticized what he described as “the arrogance of the invader,” saying it overpowered efforts for dialogue in “Palestine.” His words marked a rare move away from the Holy See’s usual stance of neutrality.
In a new book, Pope Francis suggested a detailed review is needed to determine if the situation in Gaza meets the definition of genocide, which is an accusation Israel has denied. Since 2013, the Holy See has officially recognized the State of Palestine while maintaining diplomatic ties and supporting a two-state solution.
The war started after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1208 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Israel has said 96 hostages remain in Gaza, including 34 it believes are dead. On the other side, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israel’s attacks have killed at least 45,206 people, most of them women and children.
