Pope Francis calls for investigation to determine whether Israel’s attack in Gaza constitutes ‘genocide’

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine whether Israel’s attack on Gaza constitutes genocideaccording to excerpts released Sunday from a forthcoming new book ahead of the pope’s jubilee year.

It is the first time Francis has openly called for an investigation into genocide charges over Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. In September he said Israel’s attacks in Gaza and Lebanon have been “immoral” and disproportionateand that its military has gone beyond the rules of war.

The book, by Hernán Reyes Alcaide and based on interviews with the Pope, is entitled “Hope never disappoints. Pilgrims towards a better world.” It will be published on the Tuesday before the Pope’s jubilee in 2025. Francis’ year’s anniversary is expected to bring more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome to celebrate the holy year.

“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.

“We should examine carefully to determine whether it fits the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies,” he added.

Last year, Francis met separately with relatives of Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinians who lived through the war, setting off a firestorm by using words that Vatican diplomats usually avoid: “terrorism” and, according to the Palestinians, “genocide.”

Francis spoke at the time about the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians following his meetings, which were arranged before the Israel-Hamas hostage deal and a temporary halt in fighting was announced.

The Pope, as last week too met with a delegation of Israeli hostages who were released and their families to push the campaign to bring the remaining prisoners home had editorial control over the forthcoming book.

The war started then the militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023killed 1,200 people and abducted 250 as hostages and taking them back to Gaza, where dozens still remain.

Israel’s subsequent year-long military campaign has killed more than 43,000 people, according to Gaza health officials, whose figures do not distinguish between civilians and fighters, although they say more than half of the dead are women and children.

The Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza has erupted several trials at international courts in The Hague involving requests for arrest warrants as well as allegations and denials of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

In the new book, Francis also talks about migration and the problem of integrating migrants into their host countries.

“Faced with this challenge, no country can stand alone and none can solve the problem in isolation through more restrictive and repressive laws, sometimes passed under the pressure of fear or in search of electoral advantage,” Francis said.

“On the contrary, just as we see that there is a globalization of indifference, we must respond with the globalization of charity and cooperation,” he added. Francis also mentioned “still open wounds of the war in Ukraine has forced thousands of people to leave their homes, especially in the first months of the conflict.”