Pope suggests international study into possible genocide in Gaza
Pope Francis has suggested the global community should study whether Israel’s military campaign in Gaza constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people, in some of his most explicit criticism yet of Israel’s conduct in its yearlong war.
In excerpts published from a forthcoming book, the pontiff said some international experts say “what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide.
“We should investigate carefully to assess whether this fits into the technical definition [of genocide] formulated by international jurists and organisations,” the pope said in the excerpts, published by Italian daily La Stampa.
Francis, leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church, is usually careful not to take sides in international conflicts, and to stress de-escalation. But he has stepped up his criticism of Israel’s conduct in its war.
Israel slams UN committee’s Gaza genocide claims as ‘false’
Israel has condemned the United Nations for what it described as “anti-Israel fabrications” after a UN committee said Israel’s warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide.
“The UN is breaking its own record when it comes to biased reports, singling out Israel and anti-Israel fabrications,” the Foreign Ministry said late on Saturday.
The UN special committee said in a report that Israel was “intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury” in the Gaza Strip, accusing it of “using starvation as a method of war”.
But the ministry dismissed the accusations as “false claims”.
“The … report is an appalling example of the transformation of the UN into an organisation which is used as a pawn by terrorists who attack civilians in a democratic state,” it said in a statement shared by spokesman Oren Marmorstein on X.
The UN committee had said “through its siege over Gaza, obstruction of humanitarian aid, alongside targeted attacks and killing of civilians and aid workers, despite repeated UN appeals, binding orders from the International Court of Justice and resolutions of the Security Council, Israel is intentionally causing death, starvation and serious injury”.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry, however, insisted its “activities are directed solely at dismantling Hamas’s terror capabilities”.
The United States, Israel’s biggest supporter, rejected the UN committee’s charges, which it said were “unfounded”.
‘This is terrorism’: Israeli officials react to flares fired at Netanyahu’s home
Israeli officials and politicians are issuing public statements after three suspects were arrested when two flares landed near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in the central town of Caesarea.
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar said in a statement that it was “a very serious incident that is far from a legitimate protest”. “We will not accept any violent activity against the symbols of the state. Each case will be treated with the utmost severity,” said Bar.
Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin accused the perpetrators of “seeking to dismantle the country from within”.
Former war cabinet member and opposition figure Benny Gantz wrote on X: “If the suspicions are true and activists are behind the firing of flares at the premier’s residence, it should be said clearly: this is not protest, this is terrorism.”
