Pope Francis Denounces Gaza Airstrikes as 'Cruelty'; Israel Rebukes Remarks

The Pope's criticism of Israeli airstrikes killing children prompts sharp responses from Israeli officials, highlighting ongoing tensions in the Gaza conflict.

Pope Francis condemned Israeli airstrikes in Gaza that reportedly killed seven children, describing the attacks as 'cruelty' and 'not war' during his annual Christmas address.
Israel's Foreign Ministry criticized the Pope's comments as 'disconnected' from the reality of its fight against Hamas, accusing him of applying 'double standards.'
The Israeli government emphasized that its military efforts target Hamas militants, who it accuses of using civilians as human shields, while trying to minimize harm to innocents.
The Pope's remarks follow weeks of heightened criticism of Israel's military campaign, including his previous suggestion to investigate whether the situation in Gaza constitutes genocide, a claim Israel rejects.
The conflict, which began with Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, has resulted in over 45,000 Palestinian deaths and significant displacement, according to Gaza health authorities and UN-verified data.

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