In a new book set to be released this week, Pope Francis I endorsed a genocide investigation into Israel’s war on Gaza – which has killed or maimed more than 150,000 Palestinians and forcibly displaced, starved, or sickened millions more over the past 13 months.
“In the Middle East, where the open doors of nations like Jordan or Lebanon continue to be a salvation for millions of people fleeing conflicts in the region: I am thinking above all of those who leave Gaza in the midst of the famine that has struck their Palestinian brothers and sisters given the difficulty of getting food and aid into their territory,” the pontiff wrote in his latest book, which goes on sale in some countries on November 19.
“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” the Pope added. “It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.”
In a new book, the Pope writes that "According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide", and says the claim should be "carefully investigated". https://t.co/VEsNllwMn8
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 17, 2024
The Pope’s words echo last week’s finding by a United Nations expert panel that Israel’s annihilation of Gaza is “consistent with the characteristics of genocide.”
The International Court of Justice – a U.N. organ – is currently weighing a South Africa-led genocide case against Israel backed by more than 30 nations and regional blocs as well as hundreds of groups and experts around the world.
Meanwhile, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as three former Hamas leaders assassinated by Israel, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, including extermination.
Many jurists, scholars, and other experts—including some of Israel’s leading Holocaust historians – have called Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza genocide. Early in the war, Raz Segal – an Israeli historian and professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Stockton University in New Jersey – called Israel’s Gaza onslaught “a textbook case of genocide.”
Numerous world leaders and other international officials, artists, entertainers, and others – including half of Democratic voters in the United States surveyed in May – also agree that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Many Palestinian Christians have been killed, injured, or otherwise harmed by Israeli forces during the bombardment, invasion, and siege of Gaza. With just 800 to 1,000 people believed remaining in Gaza, members of the world’s oldest Christian community warned early in the war that they were “under threat of extinction.”
In their most infamous attack on Gaza Christians, Israeli forces bombed the 12th century Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, Gaza’s oldest, in October 2023, killing 18 Palestinians including numerous children. Among the victims were two women and an infant related to former Republican U.S. Congressman Justin Amash of Michigan.
After an Israeli sniper fatally shot an elderly woman and her daughter on the grounds of a Catholic church in Gaza City last December, Pope Francis condemned what he called an act of “terrorism.”
Amid the death and destruction wrought by Israel’s assault on Gaza, last December’s Christmas celebrations were canceled in Bethlehem, the purported birthplace of Jesus Christ.
“How can we celebrate when we feel this war—this genocide – that is taking place could resume at any moment?” asked Palestinian Lutheran pastor Munther Isaac at the time.
Brett Wilkins is is staff writer for Common Dreams. Based in San Francisco, his work covers issues of social justice, human rights and war and peace. This originally appeared at CommonDreams and is reprinted with the author’s permission.
Fantastic news! Good for the Pope!
I think the Pope has no misgivings about what is taking place, Genocide.
Looks like there will be more scandal stories about Priests and Choirs coming soon.
This may well trigger a wave of anti-Catholicism in the media for daring to speak out.
Bring it
No one's going to commit a genocide for 14 months without the church leading from the rear to suggest that maybe someone should consider preparing a report. These are the representatives of the Almighty, apparently, operating at full capacity from a position of unlimited wealth and purporting to speak for a billion people.
Obviously he doesn't want the Zionists butt hurt like the Dems. after they lost the election. /s
Not the first time the Pope has crossed the Zios… Go Frank Go! 🇻🇦 ✝️🇵🇸✝️
"Pope Francis met with a group of Israelis and their family members who were freed after being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas and other Palestinian militants.
The private meeting with 16 people, including two children, took place at the Vatican Nov. 14. A few members held posters with the faces and names of men still held in captivity."
https://www.cathstan.org/us-world/pope-meets-israeli-citizens-freed-from-captivity-in-gaza
Question : Would the Pope meet with maimed, crippled, burned, and orphaned Palestinian children and call for an immediate stop to the genocida against the Palestinians???
How would they get out of the Gaza concentration camp?
There are injured Palestinian children who are already receiving treatment in different countries. The pope could arrange to meet wirh some of them.
"Diaa Al-Haqq, 15, was injured when an alleged Israeli missile attack hit a café in Gaza, the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) — the nongovernmental organization that arranged his evacuation — told Portland, Oregon, ABC affiliate KATU. Diaa's arms were severely injured and he had amputations on both arms below his elbows."
https://abcnews.go.com/International/gaza-teen-us-medical-treatment-arm-amputations/story?id=115962818
Palestinian children hurt in bombings receiving care in Philadelphia
https://6abc.com/post/palestinian-children-hurt-bombings-receiving-care-philadelphia/15364360/
Children are to be evacuated from Gaza to receive medical treatment in Ireland under plans to be approved by Cabinet this morning.
In the first wave 30 children will travel alongside a carer who will be accommodated in homes owned by healthcare workers.
The children will be flown in by the European Union after being cleared by Irish medics who will travel to Palestine.
https://www.newstalk.com/news/gaza-palestinian-children-to-receive-medical-treatment-in-ireland-1765758
Any Palestinian who leaves Gaza will likely never be allowed to come back.
The families of the captives are our best if not altogether willing allies.
He did right.
At least there’s one Catholic clergyman with enough guts to speak out. I’ve long given up on our local priests.
Would it kill them to call for a ceasefire?.. THAT’S what Jesus would do!
Those who want justice against Israel need only bide their time. Israel is fast becoming a failed state and not one to do business with, especially with the settler vermin running the show. This is a slow death, but due to Israel's maniacal actions it can now only blame itself.
Bergoglio once again channels the proverbial stopped clock. This gesture does not even begin to repair the massive damage this heretic/apostate has wreaked upon the Catholic Church and the world.
It's about time the Pope weighed in on this sickening bloodbath. 43,000 trapped people in the world's largest concentration camp slaughtered, 70% of them being women and children, is an unequivocal War crime.
I've seen where the Pope often speaks of "martyred Ukraine" but I've yet to see him use the phrase "martyred Palestine".
"Carefully investigated." WTF? as Matthew Henry said, "None are so blind who will not see, none so deaf who will not hear." What's to see and hear? The obvious! It's genocide by UN definition, Pope! https://www.un.org/en/genocide-prevention/definition
But, maybe the (un) Holy See has a different definition? The RCC's crimes against humanity in the past and present doesn't shed a good light on the organization as it crumbles like the rest of the institutions people have trusted. And, they all seem to be crumbling at once.