Pope calls for investigation into allegations of genocide in Gaza
Pope Francis has, for the first time, referred to the Israeli military offensive in Gaza as "genocide," as reported by media outlets. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Pope Francis has called for an inquiry to assess whether Israel's military actions in Gaza could be classified as genocide against the Palestinian people, as reported in excerpts from a forthcoming book released on Sunday.
In what represents some of his most pointed criticism to date, the pontiff urged the international community to conduct a legal evaluation of Israel’s operations in Gaza.
“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” the Pope stated in excerpts published by the Italian daily La Stampa. “It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.”
This book, authored by Hernan Reyes Alcaide and based on interviews with the Pope, is titled ‘Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Towards a Better World’ and is set for release on Tuesday.
Furthermore, the pontiff’s remarks represent the first occasion he has publicly used the term “genocide” in connection with the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza, aligning with statements from the UN. A recent report from the organization indicated that the actions of the Israel Defense Forces were “consistent with characteristics of genocide,” claiming that Israel has utilized starvation as a warfare tactic.
According to the UN, the extensive destruction in Gaza has resulted in approximately 1.9 million Palestinians being displaced, amounting to more than 90% of the territory’s population.
In response, Israeli Ambassador to the Vatican Yaron Sideman asserted that the allegations of genocide regarding Israel’s military campaign in Gaza are unfounded.
“There was a genocidal massacre on 7 October 2023 of Israeli citizens, and since then, Israel has exercised its right of self-defense against attempts from seven different fronts to kill its citizens,” he noted in a statement on X on Sunday. “Any attempt to call it by any other name is singling out the Jewish State.”
Since the onset of the Hamas-Israel conflict in October 2023, multiple global organizations have accused Israel of committing inhumane acts in Gaza.
Last December, South Africa submitted a case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, alleging that Israel’s actions in Gaza after the surprise assault by Hamas were “genocidal in character.”
Following a series of attacks by Hamas that led to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, Israel declared war on the militant group. Over a year into the conflict, more than 43,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and nearly 97,000 wounded due to the intensive bombings conducted by the IDF, according to health officials in the enclave.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
In what represents some of his most pointed criticism to date, the pontiff urged the international community to conduct a legal evaluation of Israel’s operations in Gaza.
“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” the Pope stated in excerpts published by the Italian daily La Stampa. “It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.”
This book, authored by Hernan Reyes Alcaide and based on interviews with the Pope, is titled ‘Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Towards a Better World’ and is set for release on Tuesday.
Furthermore, the pontiff’s remarks represent the first occasion he has publicly used the term “genocide” in connection with the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza, aligning with statements from the UN. A recent report from the organization indicated that the actions of the Israel Defense Forces were “consistent with characteristics of genocide,” claiming that Israel has utilized starvation as a warfare tactic.
According to the UN, the extensive destruction in Gaza has resulted in approximately 1.9 million Palestinians being displaced, amounting to more than 90% of the territory’s population.
In response, Israeli Ambassador to the Vatican Yaron Sideman asserted that the allegations of genocide regarding Israel’s military campaign in Gaza are unfounded.
“There was a genocidal massacre on 7 October 2023 of Israeli citizens, and since then, Israel has exercised its right of self-defense against attempts from seven different fronts to kill its citizens,” he noted in a statement on X on Sunday. “Any attempt to call it by any other name is singling out the Jewish State.”
Since the onset of the Hamas-Israel conflict in October 2023, multiple global organizations have accused Israel of committing inhumane acts in Gaza.
Last December, South Africa submitted a case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, alleging that Israel’s actions in Gaza after the surprise assault by Hamas were “genocidal in character.”
Following a series of attacks by Hamas that led to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis, Israel declared war on the militant group. Over a year into the conflict, more than 43,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and nearly 97,000 wounded due to the intensive bombings conducted by the IDF, according to health officials in the enclave.
Ian Smith contributed to this report for TROIB News
