Pope Francis' First Use of Term "Genocide" in Reference to Gaza Draws Fire From Israel

Pope Francis, as reported yesterday in La Stampa, has called for an investigation to determine if Israel’s attacks on Gaza amount to genocide of the Palestinian people. La Stampa published excerpts from a book to be released tomorrow, Hope Never Disappoints. Pilgrims Towards a Better World by Hernan Reyes Alcaide, which has interviews with the Pope. One excerpt included what was evidently the first time the pontiff had used the term “genocide” in reference to the slaughter in Gaza. He was quoted as saying: “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.”