VATICAN CITY: The Vatican’s top diplomat sharply criticized Israel’s “ongoing massacre” in Gaza in comments published on Monday — one of the Catholic Church’s strongest condemnations of Israel’s war against Hamas.
In an interview tied to the second anniversary of the attack on Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, Cardinal Pietro Parolin also called those attacks “inhuman and indefensible” and urged Hamas to free remaining hostages.
“Those who are attacked have a right to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the principle of proportionality,” said Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state and one of Pope Leo’s top deputies.
“The war waged by the Israeli army to eliminate Hamas militants disregards the fact that it is targeting a largely defenseless population, already pushed to the brink, in an area where buildings and homes are reduced to rubble,” he said.
“It is ... clear that the international community is, unfortunately, powerless and that the countries truly capable of exerting influence have so far failed to act to stop the ongoing massacre,” Parolin told the Vatican’s media outlet.
Pope Leo, elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, has been stepping up criticism of Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
He has urged Israel to let in more aid and raise Gaza in a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in September.
Parolin added: “It’s not enough to say that what is happening is unacceptable and then continue to allow it to happen.
“We must seriously ask ourselves about the legitimacy ... of continuing to supply weapons that are being used against civilians.”
He did not name any countries.
Israel attacked Gaza after the attack in 2023. Israel’s campaign has killed more than 67,000 in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
