Pope Francis Calls for International Investigation into Alleged Genocide in Gaza

Pope Francis has urged the international community to investigate Israel’s military operations in Gaza, suggesting that they may constitute genocide. He stated that according to some international experts, the events in Gaza bear characteristics of genocide.

In excerpts from a new book released on Sunday, the Pope remarked, “This must be thoroughly investigated to assess whether it aligns with the technical definition of genocide as determined by international lawyers and organizations.”

Israel has denied the genocide allegations. The country’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the Pope’s remarks.

This follows a case filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last December, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention. In January, the court ordered Israel to prevent its forces from engaging in genocidal acts. However, the court has yet to deliver a verdict on whether genocide has occurred in Gaza.

Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of over 1.4 billion Catholics, typically emphasizes peace and refrains from taking sides in international conflicts. However, he has recently issued strong criticisms of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.