The International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations (IJCIC) has written an open letter to Pope Francis. The Group criticized the Pope for his “one-sided perspective” in the Gaza conflict. In the letter, the IJCIC objects to Francis’ troubling and deeply concerning” remarks regarding the conflict in Gaza, which “have been repeated on several occasions.”
They say that he portrays Israel’s war efforts against Hamas simply as “cruelty” and Francis “risks presenting a one-sided perspective that overlooks the broader context and complexities of the current crisis,” the IJCIC states. The letter, which was signed by IJCIC chairman Rabbi Mark Dratch, claims that Israel is engaged in a “defensive war against jihadist terrorism” provoked by “the brutal and unprecedented massacre perpetrated by Hamas on October 7.”
The Hamas attack claimed the lives of 1,400 Israelis “in cold blood.” According to the letter “101 remain held hostage under unspeakable conditions.” According to this Jewish group, framing the war solely in terms of cruelty without acknowledging the necessary aim of dismantling a terrorist infrastructure is unfair. The IJCIC claims that this fuels “rampant antisemitism.”
They also complain that the Pope’s framing “diminishes the suffering experienced by Israeli families and communities.” The letter went on to claim that the Pontiff’s statements “risk undermining the moral clarity needed to confront the global threat of terrorism.” The letter continues to state that Hamas “callously uses its civilian population as human shields, storing weapons in hospitals, schools, and residential areas.”
The IJCIC believes that this justifies civilian casualties as it is “agonizingly difficult” to prevent the deaths of innocents while fighting combatants. According to the advocacy group, Israel is motivated “not by cruelty but by the imperative to safeguard its population against existential threats.” They urged the Vatican to “condemn regularly and forcefully the atrocities committed by Hamas with equal fervor,” it declares, since silence on this matter “risks emboldening those who seek to sow hatred and destruction.”
Pope Francis has condemned the actions of the State of Israel multiple times since the start of the Israel-Hamas War. Francis stated, “ According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide.” He also asked for a “careful investigation” of Israeli military actions. He has previously described the behavior of the IDF as “a massacre” and ” terrorism.”
The Wall Street Journal, which is a strong supporter of Israel, strongly criticized the Pope’s views. In a written response, the WSJ editors remarked “There is something disturbing about a pope accusing Jews — the victims of genocide themselves — of genocide while they are fighting for survival on several fronts against enemies aiming to destroy them.”
The Times of Israel Staff also commented on the controversy. They disputed how the Pope characterized the war and drew attention to ‘antisemitic‘ passages in the Book of John. “Israel categorically rejects that characterization of its conduct in the ongoing war, which began on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, amid acts of brutality and sexual assault.”