By CatholicVote | Created at 2024-11-18 21:36:00 | Updated at 2024-11-21 13:20:32
2 days ago
CV NEW FEED // In his forthcoming book for the Jubilee 2025, Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Towards a Better World, Pope Francis addresses the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the plight of war refugees, calling for an investigation into whether Israel is committing a genocide, according to Vatican News.
The book, published by Edizioni Piemme, will debut on November 19 in Italy, Spain, and Latin America, with broader international releases to follow.
Vatican News reported that Pope Francis is calling for a thorough investigation into the situation in Gaza, where Palestinians face severe famine and restricted access to aid. In his book the Pope stresses the need to uphold human dignity amid the suffering. Reflecting on nations welcoming refugees, Pope Francis highlights the critical role of countries like Jordan and Lebanon in providing shelter to millions fleeing regional conflicts.
“In the Middle East, where the open doors of nations like Jordan or Lebanon continue to be a salvation for millions of people fleeing conflicts in the region: I am thinking above all of those who leave Gaza in the midst of the famine that has struck their Palestinian brothers and sisters given the difficulty of getting food and aid into their territory,” Pope Francis writes.
The Pontiff also addresses growing concerns about potential crimes against humanity in Gaza, noting the urgency of international scrutiny.
“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide,” the Pope writes. “It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.”
The Pope’s words on the crisis in Gaza come as the UN Special Committee on Israeli Practices released a report detailing the catastrophic impact of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The report states that Israel’s warfare exhibits the hallmarks of genocide, including widespread civilian casualties and the imposition of life-threatening conditions. It highlights Israeli policies that have deprived Palestinians of food, water, and fuel, obstructed humanitarian aid, and targeted civilians and aid workers.
“Since the beginning of the war, Israeli officials have publicly supported policies that strip Palestinians of the very necessities required to sustain life,” the report states. “These actions make clear Israel’s intent to instrumentalize life-saving supplies for political and military gains.”
According to the UN report, over 25,000 tons of explosives — equivalent to two nuclear bombs — were dropped on Gaza by early 2024, decimating vital infrastructure, collapsing water and sanitation systems, and creating environmental pollution that poses long-term health risks. The destruction of agricultural systems has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leading to famine-like conditions for Gaza’s population.
“By destroying vital water, sanitation, and food systems, and contaminating the environment, Israel has created a lethal mix of crises that will inflict severe harm on generations to come,” the Committee noted.
The report also raises ethical concerns about Israel’s use of AI-assisted targeting systems with minimal human oversight. This technology, combined with heavy weaponry, has led to extremely high casualties among women and children due to failures to distinguish between combatants and civilians.
The Committee condemned escalating censorship, including targeting journalists and disproportionately removing pro-Palestinian content from social media platforms. “This deliberate silencing of reporting is a clear strategy to undermine the vital work of the UN and sever the lifeline of aid still reaching Gaza,” the report asserts.
The report calls for collective international action, urging all member states to stop supporting Israel’s violations of international law: “A failure to do so weakens the very core of the international legal system and sets a dangerous precedent, allowing atrocities to go unchecked.”
