Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli criticised the pope in an open letter published by Il Foglio, Reuters reports.
Pope Francis has been urged to clarify his stance on accusations of genocide in Gaza following comments made in excerpts of his forthcoming book.
Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli criticised the pope in an open letter published by Il Foglio, Reuters reports.
“As a people who lost six million of its sons and daughters in the Holocaust, we are particularly sensitive to the trivialisation of the term ‘genocide’ – a trivialisation that comes dangerously close to Holocaust denial,” Chikli wrote.
Chikli called Francis “a dear friend of the Jewish people” and requested him “to clarify your position regarding the new accusation of genocide against the Jewish state.”
The Vatican has not yet responded to the letter.
The pope’s comments, published by La Stampa, referenced international experts who said Gaza’s events “have the characteristics of a genocide” and called for careful investigation.
Israel, which rejects such claims, maintains that its offensive targets Hamas militants. Over 45,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed.
