Pope’s ‘incendiary’ comments on Israel-Hamas war undermine ‘Israel’s right to defend itself,’ Jewish leaders say

A coalition of Jewish organizations sent a letter to Pope Francis Monday saying his comments about the Israel-Hamas war “distort Israel’s legitimate military campaign and fuel antisemitism.”

The Pope in December described the ongoing conflict and the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) recent airstrike that reportedly resulted in the deaths of children as “cruelty” and called for peace in the Holy Land, according to the Times of Israel. The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations (COP) defended Israel’s actions, saying Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas’ terrorist attacks.

“We appreciate and share your concern for the suffering of innocent civilians and desire to spread peace and compassion around the world,” COP wrote to the pontiff. “However, statements you have made including, ‘Yesterday children were bombed. This is cruelty, this is not war,’ only serve to distort Israel’s legitimate military campaign and fuel antisemitism and unjust targeting of the Jewish state.”

Pope Francis was reportedly referring to an Israeli airstrike on two Gaza schools in December which killed at least 17, five of which were children, according to The Associated Press, citing a Health Ministry official. Israel said Hamas had been operating command centers in the schools where they also sheltered civilians.

The IDF has consistently upheld that Hamas terrorists often hide among civilians, according to the Times of Israel.

“This narrative does not acknowledge Israel’s right to defend itself in the aftermath of the October 7 massacre where Hamas terrorists murdered 1,200 innocent civilians and took 251 hostages, 101 of whom still remain captive,” the letter continued. “Further, it does not acknowledge Hamas’ use of human shields and civilian infrastructure for terror purposes, putting the entire population of Gaza at risk.”

“With global antisemitism at record highs, the American Jewish community calls on you to refrain from making incendiary comments and to build bridges between our two peoples,” COP concluded.

Antisemitic events have risen worldwide to levels not seen since World War II, according to a 2023 report from Tel Aviv University and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Antisemitic incidents in the United States have risen to unprecedented levels since Oct. 7, 2023, according to separate findings from ADL.

The Israel Foreign Ministry (IFM) bashed the pope for his comments in December, saying Israel’s actions are incomparable to Hamas’ terrorism, and that Hamas uses “children as human shields.”

“The death of any innocent person in a war is a tragedy,” IFM said in an X post. “Israel makes extraordinary efforts to prevent harm to innocents, while Hamas makes extraordinary efforts to increase harm to Palestinian civilians.”

In response to the Pope’s statement today: 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…

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) December 21, 2024

Pope Francis has met with freed Israeli hostages of Hamas as well as the relatives of those who remain hostage, offering condolences and calling for peace in the area, according to the Vatican News. The pontiff has also previously condemned Hamas’ attacks on Israel and called for the return of hostages, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Israel previously condemned Pope Francis in October 2023 for calling for a ceasefire between the nation and Gaza.

“Humanitarian law must be respected, above all in Gaza, where it’s urgent and necessary to guarantee humanitarian corridors and to protect the entire population,” the pope said at the time. “Brothers and sisters, there are already so many dead. Please, don’t shed innocent blood, not in the Holy Land, or in Ukraine, or in any other place!”

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