Israel has hit back at Pope Francis, over his criticism of Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, which killed a number of children.
The Pope in his Christmas address on Saturday said Israeli airstrikes in Gaza were “cruel.”
“Yesterday, children were bombed. This is cruelty. This is not war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart.”
Responding Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “Cruelty is terrorists hiding behind children while trying to murder Israeli children; cruelty is holding 100 hostages for 442 days, including a baby and children, by terrorists and abusing them.
“Unfortunately, the Pope has chosen to ignore all of this, as well as the fact that Israel’s actions have targeted terrorists who used children as human shields.
“The pope’s remarks are particularly disappointing as they are disconnected from the true and factual context of Israel’s fight against jihadist terrorism — a multi-front war that was forced upon it starting on October 7.”
The comments follow a recent controversy over a Nativity scene at the Vatican which featured baby Jesus wrapped in a Palestinian keffiyeh. Images of Pope Francis inaugurating the scene on Dec. 7 created a backlash.
Israel’s Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli accused the pontiff of perpetuating a “dangerous blood libel” against Israel and distorting history.
The scene was removed days later without explanation.
In November, the Pope raised Israeli ire for calling for an investigation of Israeli “war crimes” and “genocide” in Gaza.
