Pope urges investigation to determine whether Israel has committed genocide in Gaza

Pope Francis is calling for an investigation to determine whether Israel has committed "genocide" in Gaza.

In an excerpt from a book of interviews, the head of the Catholic Church says that according to "some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide".

The 87-year-old adds: "We should investigate carefully to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies."

Passages have been published in Italian newspaper La Stampa ahead of the book's publication on Tuesday.

Genocide is defined, according to the UN, as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.

According to the Hamas health ministry in Gaza, Israel's military campaign has killed more than 43,000 people, though that number does not distinguish between civilians and Hamas fighters.

Israel says it takes stringent measures to avoid civilian casualties by warning people to evacuate areas in which it is operating.

The United Nations recently said that almost 70% of deaths in the Gaza war, which it has verified, were among women and children.

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The war began after Hamas militants broke into Israel on 7 October last year and killed about 1,200 people while taking 250 hostages, dozens of whom remain in Gaza.

The United Nations has said Hamas may have committed rape, gang rape and "sexualised torture" on women during the 7 October attacks.

It also said there are "reasonable grounds to believe that such violence may be ongoing".

In the book the Pope has contributed to - by Hernan Reyes Alcaide - he also discusses migration.

Francis says "no country can be left alone and no one can think of addressing the issue in isolation through more restrictive and repressive laws".

He says such laws can sometimes be "approved under the pressure of fear or in search of electoral advantages".

He adds: "Just as we see that there is a globalisation of indifference, we must respond with the globalisation of charity and co-operation."

Sky News has contacted Israeli authorities for comment.

(c) Sky News 2024: Pope urges investigation to determine whether Israel has committed genocide in Gaza