ROME (AP) — pope francis We are seeking an investigation to determine whether Israel’s attack in Gaza amounts to genocideaccording to an excerpt released Sunday from a new book that will be published soon ahead of the Pope’s Jubilee.
This is the first time that President Francis has publicly called for an investigation into allegations of genocide involving Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. In September he visited Israel’s Attacks in Gaza and Lebanon were ‘immoral’ and disproportionateand that its military is above the rules of war.
The book was written by Hernán Reyes Alcaide based on an interview with the Pope and is titled “Hope never disappoints. Pilgrims for a better world.” ahead of the 2025 Papal Jubilee. It is scheduled to be released on Tuesday. Mr. Francis More than 30 million pilgrims are expected to visit Rome during the year-long Jubilee To celebrate the Jubilee.
“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide,” the pope said in an excerpt published Sunday in the Italian daily La Stampa.
“We need to carefully examine whether it falls within the technical definitions set by legal scholars and international organizations,” he added.
Pope Francis holds up a cross while presiding over World Day of the Poor Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Last year, Francis met separately with relatives of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip and with Palestinian survivors of the war, speaking of the term “terrorism” that Vatican diplomats usually avoid and, according to Palestinians, “genocide.” was used to cause a blaze.
Francis spoke at the time of the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians following talks scheduled before the Israeli-Hamas hostage agreement and suspension of fighting were announced.
The Pope last week met with a delegation of freed Israeli hostages and their families By pushing forward with the movement to have the remaining POWs returned home, he gained editorial control over a book that was to be published.
the war started The extremist Hamas group attacked Israel on October 7, 2023They killed 1,200 people and abducted 250 as hostages. Bring them back to Gaza, where dozens still remain..
Gaza health officials say the ensuing year-long Israeli military operation has killed more than 43,000 people, with the numbers not distinguishing between civilians and fighters, but more than half of the dead were women and children. It is said that
Conflict between Israel and Hamas erupts in the Gaza Strip Several cases at the International Court of Justice in The Hague These include requests for arrest warrants, as well as accusations and denials of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
In his new book, Francis also talks about immigration and the problems of integrating them into host countries.
“Faced with this challenge, no country can stand alone and address the issue in isolation, sometimes through the pressure of fear or through more restrictive and repressive laws passed in search of electoral advantage.” “No one can even think of dealing with this,” President Francisco said.
“On the contrary, just as we are seeing a globalization of indifference, we must respond with a globalization of philanthropy and cooperation,” he added. Francis also said, “Not yet. The open wound of the Ukraine war Especially during the first months of the conflict, thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. ”
