Pope Francis calls for probe into possible Gaza genocide in new book

In a book published today, Pope Francis addressed accusations of genocide related to Israel’s military operations in Gaza for the first time, though he does not explicitly endorse them. 

The book, "Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Toward a Better World", is by Hernán Reyes Alcaide and is based on interviews with the Pope. It is published in Italy, Spain and Latin America, and mentions the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying that what has happened must be investigated. 

The Pope states in one passage: “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. This should be studied carefully to determine whether it fits the technical definition as formulated by jurists and international bodies.”

The 87-year-old pontiff references the extermination of Jews during World War II, the "genocide" of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire, the Tutsis in Rwanda, and Christians in the Middle East.  

This marks the first time he has publicly used the term "genocide" in relation to Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territory - though he does not fully adopt it. 

Francis also regularly calls for the release of all Israeli hostages in his public addresses.  

On 14 November, he met with a group of 16 former hostages who had been freed after months of captivity in Gaza. 

That same day, a special United Nations committee published a report stating that the methods of warfare employed by Israel "have the characteristics of a genocide."  

In the new book, Pope Francis also speaks about migration, the problem of integrating migrants in their host countries, and how people are becoming inhumane in the face of today’s issues. 

“Faced with this challenge, no country can be left alone and no one can think of addressing the issue in isolation through more restrictive and repressive laws, sometimes approved under the pressure of fear or in search of electoral advantages,” he said. 

“On the contrary, just as we see that there is a globalization of indifference, we must respond with the globalization of charity and cooperation, so that the conditions of emigrants are humanized” he added.  

The Pope also mentioned that the “still open wound of the war in has led thousands of people to abandon their homes, especially during the first months of the conflict.”

"Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Toward a Better World", edited by Hernán Reyes Alcaide (Edizioni Piemme), comes out today in Italy, Spain and Latin America, and will follow in other countries. 

Additional sources • La Stampa, AP