Pope Calls for Investigation into Potential Gaza Genocide

Pope Francis has called for an investigation into whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide, a significant escalation in his rhetoric concerning the ongoing conflict, Al Jazeera reports.

The statement, appearing in excerpts from an upcoming book, Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims towards a Better World, marks the first time the Pope has publicly used the term “genocide” in relation to the Israeli military offensive.

The excerpts, published Sunday by Italian daily La Stampa, quote the Pope as saying: “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. We should investigate carefully to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.”

The book, authored by Hernan Reyes Alcaide, will be released on Tuesday. The Pope’s comments come amidst a mounting death toll in Gaza, with the territory’s Ministry of Health reporting over 43,846 fatalities, mostly civilians.

Israel’s embassy to the Vatican swiftly responded to the Pope’s statement on X (formerly Twitter), quoting Ambassador Yaron Sideman:

“There was a genocidal massacre on 7 October 2023 of Israeli citizens, and since then, Israel has exercised its right of self-defence against attempts from seven different fronts to kill its citizens. Any attempt to call it by any other name is singling out the Jewish State.”

The Israeli government’s response highlights the highly charged political atmosphere surrounding the conflict. Pro-Palestinian groups have described the Israeli offensive as a “war of vengeance,” leaving the Gaza Strip in ruins. The situation has already spurred several legal cases at international courts in The Hague, alleging war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

A United Nations Special Committee on Thursday concluded that Israel’s conduct of warfare in Gaza “is consistent with the characteristics of genocide,” citing the use of starvation as a method of war. This assessment has been condemned by the United States, a key backer of Israel. Separately, South Africa, backed by several nations including Turkey, Spain, and Mexico, has brought a genocide case before the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts but has yet to rule on whether genocide has occurred.

While generally avoiding taking sides in international conflicts, Pope Francis has increasingly criticized Israel’s actions. He previously condemned the killing of Palestinian children and sharply criticized Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon as “beyond morality.” However, this is the first time he has publicly linked the situation in Gaza to genocide, albeit while calling for further investigation. The Pope’s position remains complex, as he has also repeatedly called for the return of Israeli captives held by Hamas following the October 7 attacks.

On Thursday, he received 16 former captives released from Gaza.