'Cruelty is terrorists hiding behind children': Israel hits out at Pope Francis over Gaza airstrikes remark

Israel's Foreign Ministry strongly criticised Pope Francis following his Christmas address, where he condemned Israeli airstrikes in Gaza as “cruelty.”

In a statement on Saturday night, the ministry responded sharply, asserting, “Cruelty is terrorists hiding behind children while trying to murder Israeli children; cruelty is holding 100 hostages for 442 days, including a baby and children, by terrorists and abusing them.”

The statement further accused the Pope of disregarding the context of Israel’s actions, saying, “Unfortunately, the Pope has chosen to ignore all of this, as well as the fact that Israel's actions have targeted terrorists who used children as human shields. The pope's remarks are particularly disappointing as they are disconnected from the true and factual context of Israel's fight against jihadist terrorism -- a multi-front war that was forced upon it starting on October 7.”

Pope Francis, addressing Catholic cardinals on Saturday, had remarked, “Yesterday, children were bombed. This is cruelty. This is not war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart.”

The controversy follows backlash over a Vatican Nativity scene inaugurated by Pope Francis on December 7, which depicted baby Jesus wrapped in a Palestinian keffiyeh. The scene was removed days later without explanation after Israel's Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli accused the display of perpetuating a “dangerous blood libel” and distorting history.

In November, tensions escalated when the Pope called for an investigation into alleged Israeli “war crimes” and “genocide” in Gaza, further straining relations.