ROME — Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine if Israel’s attacks in Gaza constitute genocide, according to excerpts released Sunday from an upcoming new book ahead of the pontiff’s jubilee year.
It’s the first time that Francis has openly urged for an investigation of genocide allegations over Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
In September, he said Israel’s attacks in Gaza and Lebanon have been “immoral” and disproportionate, and that its military has gone beyond the rules of war.
“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” the pope said in excerpts published Sunday by the Italian daily La Stampa.
In the new book, Francis also speaks about migration and the problem of integrating migrants in their host countries.
Ahead of his jubilee year, Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine whether Israel’s attacks in Gaza amount to genocide, according to excerpts released Sunday from a new book.
Francis has publicly called for an inquiry into claims of genocide related to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip for the first time. Israel’s military has violated the rules of war, he claimed in September, and its attacks in Gaza and Lebanon have been “immoral” and out of proportion.
Hernán Reyes Alcaide’s book, “Hope never disappoints,” is based on interviews with the Pope. On a journey to a better world. Ahead of the pope’s 2025 jubilee, it will be made public on Tuesday. Over 30 million pilgrims are anticipated to travel to Rome to celebrate the Holy Year as part of Francis’ year-long jubilee.
“What is occurring in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide, according to some experts,” the pope stated in quotes that were released by the Italian daily La Stampa on Sunday.
“To find out if it fits into the technical definition developed by jurists and international bodies, we should conduct a thorough investigation,” he continued.
During his separate meetings with Palestinians experiencing the war and the families of Israeli hostages in Gaza last year, Francis sparked a heated debate by using terms Vatican diplomats typically steer clear of: “terrorism” and, in the Palestinians’ words, “genocide.”. “.”.
Convened prior to the announcement of the Israeli-Hamas hostage agreement and a temporary truce in hostilities, Francis then spoke about the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians following his meetings.
With editorial control over the forthcoming book, the pope also met with a group of freed Israeli hostages and their families last week, encouraging the effort to repatriate the remaining hostages.
Hamas’ October attack on Israel sparked the war. 1,200 people were killed on July 7, 2023, and 250 were taken hostage and returned to Gaza, where dozens are still alive.
According to Gaza health officials, who do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, Israel’s subsequent year-long military campaign has killed over 43,000 people, with women and children accounting for more than half of the deaths.
A number of cases involving requests for arrest warrants, accusations and denials of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide have been brought before international courts in The Hague as a result of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Francis also discusses migration and the challenge of integrating migrants in their host nations in the new book.
Francis remarked, “When faced with this challenge, no country can be left alone and no one can think of addressing the issue in isolation through more restrictive and repressive laws, sometimes approved under pressure of fear or in search of electoral advantages.”.
“On the contrary, we need to respond to the globalization of indifference by implementing a globalization of cooperation and charity,” he continued. Francis added, “Thousands of people have fled their homes due to the war in Ukraine, which is still an open wound, particularly in the early months of the conflict.”. “”.
