Pope Francis calls for investigation to determine whether Israel’s attacks in Gaza constitute ‘genocide’

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has called for an investigation to determine whether Israel’s attacks in Gaza constitute genocide, according to excerpts released Sunday from an upcoming new book ahead of the pope’s jubilee year.

It is the first time Francis has openly called for an investigation into genocide allegations over Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. In September, he said that Israel’s attacks in Gaza and Lebanon have been “immoral” and disproportionate, and that the Israeli army has violated the rules of war.

The book, by Hernán Reyes Alcaide and based on interviews with the Pope, is entitled “Hope Never Disappoints. Pilgrims on their way to a better world.” It will be released on Tuesday ahead of the pope’s jubilee in 2025. Francis’ annual jubilee 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 hallmarks of a genocide,” the pope said in excerpts published Sunday by the Italian daily La Stampa.

“We must carefully examine whether it fits the technical definition formulated by lawyers and international bodies,” he added.

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

Francis spoke at the time of the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians after his rallies, which were organized before the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas was announced and a temporary halt to fighting was announced.

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

The war began when the militant Hamas group attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 as hostages and taking them back to Gaza, where dozens still remain.

Israel’s subsequent years-long military campaign has killed more than 43,000 people in Gaza, according to health officials. Their count makes no distinction between civilians and fighters, although they say more than half of the dead are women and children.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has led to several lawsuits in international courts in The Hague, involving requests for arrest warrants and accusations and denials of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

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

“Faced with this challenge, no country can be left alone and no one can think of tackling the issue alone through more restrictive and repressive laws, sometimes passed under the pressure of fear or in search of electoral advantages,” said Francis.

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