Pope slams 'cruelty' of strike killing Gaza children

Pope Francis condemned the Israeli Occupation airstrike that killed seven children from one family in Gaza, describing the bombing as "cruelty."

The attack, which also killed 10 members of the family in northern Gaza, was reported by Gaza's civil defense agency. The Pope expressed his sorrow, stating, "This is cruelty, this is not war," as he addressed the Holy See government.

The violence in Gaza has continued for over 14 months. Despite efforts from international mediators to broker a ceasefire, 'Israeli' aggression persists.

Israeli Occupation military confirmed the airstrike, claiming it targeted Hamas operatives but disputed the number of casualties.

Pope Francis, who has consistently called for peace since the onset of the aggression, has recently become more critical of Israeli Occupation’s actions. In late November, he accused 'Israeli' forces of arrogance, hindering dialogue, and questioned whether the situation in Gaza could be considered genocide, a claim 'Israel' has strongly denied. The Holy See maintains diplomatic ties with Palestine, supporting a two-state solution.