Israel hits back at Pope for criticizing Gaza airstrikes, says he’s ignoring Hamas cruelty

The Foreign Ministry hits back at Pope Francis who condemned Israeli airstrikes in Gaza again earlier today.

Francis opened his annual Christmas address to the Catholic cardinals who lead the Vatican’s various departments with what appeared to be a reference to Israeli airstrikes on Friday that medics said killed at least 25 Palestinians in Gaza.

“Yesterday, children were bombed,” says the pope. “This is cruelty. This is not war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart.”

“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,” the Foreign Ministry says in a statement.

“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 death of any innocent person in a war is a tragedy. Israel makes extraordinary efforts to prevent harm to innocents, while Hamas makes extraordinary efforts to increase harm to Palestinian civilians.

“The blame should be directed solely at the terrorists, not at the democracy defending itself against them. Enough with the double standards and the singling out of the Jewish state and its people,” the Foreign Ministry adds.