Pope Francis has criticized the killing of Palestinian children in Israeli military strikes on Gaza, describing the bombings of schools—carried out under the assumption of targeting Hamas fighters—as “ugly.”
During a flight from Singapore to Rome on Friday, the pope voiced skepticism about the prospects for peace in the ongoing conflict, stating, “I am sorry to have to say this, but I do not think that they are taking steps to make peace.”
Speaking at a press conference following a demanding 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, Francis revealed that he communicates daily with a Catholic parish in Gaza, where he hears “ugly” and “difficult” reports.
The 87-year-old pontiff emphasized the gravity of the situation: “When you see the bodies of killed children, when you see that a school is bombed under the presumption that some guerrillas are present, this is ugly. It is ugly.”
The pope has supported calls for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli captives held by Hamas. He expressed that the scale of the conflict is overwhelming, noting, “Sometimes I think it’s a war that is too much, too much.”
Since October 7, Israeli military actions have devastated Gaza, displacing nearly all of its 2.4 million residents, killing over 41,000 Palestinians, and injuring nearly 100,000 others. Some reports suggest the true death toll could be around 200,000.
Approximately 10,000 Palestinians are feared trapped under rubble, and another 10,000 have been detained by Israel. The UN reports that Gaza’s economy has been left in shambles.
The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, while the International Criminal Court is pursuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes.
