Vatican’s Top Diplomat Condemns Israel Over Gaza War Comments

The Vatican’s top diplomat, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has ignited controversy with his public condemnation of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, calling it an “ongoing massacre” and labeling the war “inhuman and indefensible.” His remarks, published Monday, represent one of the most forceful criticisms of Israel ever issued by a high-ranking Vatican official.

Speaking on the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 massacre, in which terrorists slaughtered over 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, Parolin acknowledged Israel’s right to self-defense but insisted it must be “proportional.” He accused the Israeli military of targeting “a largely defenseless population,” while overlooking the fact that Hamas has embedded itself within civilian infrastructure, turning homes, schools, hospitals, and even mosques into terror bases.

Israel has repeatedly emphasized its efforts to minimize civilian casualties while confronting an enemy that deliberately hides behind its own people. According to the IDF, over 22,000 Hamas combatants have been eliminated since the start of the conflict, alongside more than 1,600 terrorists killed during the initial October 7 onslaught.

Parolin further criticized the international community for failing to stop what he called a “massacre,” though he did not acknowledge the ongoing threat Hamas poses to Israeli civilians or its refusal to release the remaining 48 hostages, only 28 of whom are believed to still be alive.

In contrast to Parolin’s sharply critical stance, the Catholic Church’s highest official in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, offered a more balanced message. From his residence in Jerusalem’s Old City, he urged Christians to serve as bridges between Israelis and Palestinians. “The wounds are there, very painful. The suffering, the misunderstandings. So, what we have to do is to start from this very sad reality and rebuild,” he said.

While calling for peace, Pizzaballa also stressed the significance of the State of Israel to the Jewish people. “It’s not just one state among the others. It’s an important reference point,” he acknowledged, signaling a desire for deeper understanding between the Catholic Church and Israel, with which the Vatican only established formal relations three decades ago.

Despite the difficult realities, Pizzaballa expressed hope. Even amid devastation, he noted that some ordinary people Jews, Muslims, and Christians continue to hold onto their humanity. “It tells me that the life, the humanity is still alive,” he said.

The tension between the Vatican’s diplomatic rebuke and its pastoral presence in the region reveals the complexity of navigating conflict while aspiring to moral clarity. While Israel faces unjust accusations from some corners of the global stage, its commitment to safeguarding its people and securing peace remains firm.

As the war persists and the region seeks a path forward, Israel continues to defend its future while reaching out to any who sincerely seek peace.

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