Foreign Ministry calls remarks 'disappointing,' 'disconnected' from reality in latest tensions between Jerusalem and the Holy See

Pope Francis condemned what he called the “cruelty” of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. Pope Francis: “Cardinal Re spoke about the war. Yesterday they did not let the patriarch enter into Gaza as they had promised.

Pope Francis condemned the bombing of children in Gaza, calling it “cruelty,” following reports of an Israeli airstrike killing seven children. Israel accused the Pope of ignoring its fight against terrorism and displaying double standards.

After Israel panned him for 'double standards' following previous comments, pontiff doubles down and accuses IDF of gunning down children, bombing hospitals

JERUSALEM – Israel accused Pope Francis of “double standards” on Dec 21 after he condemned the bombing of children in Gaza as “cruelty” following an air strike that killed seven children from one family.

Pope Francis doubled down Sunday on his condemnation of Israel's strikes on the Gaza Strip, denouncing their "cruelty" for the second time in as many days despite Israel accusing him of "double standards".

Israel accused Pope Francis of "double standards" Saturday after he condemned the bombing of children in Gaza as "cruelty" following an air strike that killed seven children from one family.

Pope Francis reflected on the devastating consequences of the Gaza war in an address at the Vatican on Saturday, expressing deep sorrow over the bombing of children in the Gaza Strip the previous day.

I think of Gaza with great sorrow; so much cruelty, children hit by machine guns, schools and hospitals bombed,’ pontiff says - Anadolu Ajansı

Pope Francis on Saturday again condemned Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, a day after an Israeli government minister publicly denounced the pontiff for suggesting the global community should study whether the military offensive there constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people.