Top Vatican cardinal says Israel carrying out ‘massacre’ in Gaza

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 Hamas’s attack on Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, Cardinal Pietro Parolin also calls 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,” says 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 says.

“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 tells the Vatican’s media outlet.

The Vatican, which has embassies in many capitals, normally uses guarded language in addressing conflicts, preferring to avoid press coverage and operate behind the scenes.

But 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 raised Gaza in a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in September.

Parolin adds: “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 does not name any countries.