How should Catholics speak about Jews in general, and Israel in particular? That question was raised anew by a recent interview book in which Pope Francis commented on the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza: “According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies.”
Taken literally, the claim is unremarkable. There are many who have made the charge of genocide against Israeli actions in Gaza, including the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International. Such charges, being very serious, should not be made recklessly, but rather ought to conform to precise definitions. Perhaps that is all that Pope Francis meant.
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