Pope calls for investigation into ‘genocide’ in Gaza

Pope Francis has addressed claims about Israel’s ongoing “genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza for the first time in an upcoming book, urging further investigation into whether Israel’s actions meet the definition.

Titled ‘Hope never disappoints. Pilgrims to a Better World’, the book contains his final and most candid intervention in the more than year-long war sparked by Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7.

“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the hallmarks of genocide,” the pope wrote in excerpts published Sunday in the Italian daily La Stampa.

“This must be carefully studied to determine whether (the situation) corresponds to the technical definition formulated by legal experts and international organizations,” he added.

The Argentine pope has repeatedly lamented the number of casualties from Israel’s operations in Gaza, with the Hamas-led Health Ministry claiming the toll of at least 43,846 people, most of them civilians, in the territory.

But his call for an investigation marks the first time he has publicly used the term genocide – without endorsing it – in the context of Israeli military operations on Palestinian territory.

On Thursday, a United Nations Special Committee ruled that Israel’s warfare in Gaza “is consistent with the characteristics of genocide,” accusing the country of “using famine as a method of war.”

Its conclusions have already been condemned by Israel’s main backer, the United States.

However, this is not the first time that Israel has been the subject of genocide accusations since the start of the war.

South Africa has brought a genocide case to the International Court of Justice with the support of several countries, including Turkey, Spain and Mexico.

Francis has also repeatedly called for the return of Israeli hostages captured by Palestinian Islamist militants on October 7.

That attack resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people on the Israeli side, the majority of whom were civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures.

Hamas fighters also took 251 people hostage that day, 97 of whom are still being held in Palestinian territory, including 34 who the Israeli army says are dead.

On Thursday, the 87-year-old pope received 16 former hostages who had been released after months of captivity in Gaza.