Pope Francis intensified his criticism of Israel's military campaign in Gaza, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave "very serious and shameful".
In the annual address to diplomats, which was held on behalf of the Pope by one of the advisers, Francis seems to have referred to the deaths caused by the cold in Gaza, a territory where there is almost no electricity.
"We cannot in any way accept the bombing of civilians," said the Pope's speech, which was read by his adviser.
"We cannot accept that children freeze to death because hospitals have been destroyed or that the country's energy grid has been attacked."
The Pope was expected to deliver the speech in person, but asked an adviser to do it on his behalf, as the Holy Father is recovering from a cold.
The speech was part of the address to the emissaries accredited to the Vatican from nearly 184 countries. The Israeli ambassador to the Holy See was present at this event.
Francis is usually careful not to take sides in conflicts. But recently he has been more vocal about Israel's military campaign in Gaza and has suggested that the global community should investigate whether the offensive constitutes genocide against the Palestinian people.
In December, an Israeli minister publicly contradicted the Holy Father's suggestion.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, after Hamas – the Palestinian group designated a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union – attacked southern Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and kidnapping nearly 250 others.
Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has left more than 46,000 Palestinians dead, according to the territory's Ministry of Health. This ministry said that more than half of the victims were women and children. Israel claims to have killed more than 17,000 militants, but has not provided evidence for this claim.
Israel has devastated large parts of the territory and the war has forced nearly 90 percent of the population of 2.3 million to relocate, often several times. /REL (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
