Pope Francis calls for genocide investigation in Gaza

INA-sources

Pope Francis called for an investigation into whether Israel's military actions in Gaza legally constitute genocide, according to a book due out this week.

The Washington Post reported in a report by Axios, followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that “ He privately used the term "genocide" last year to describe the Zionist military actions while speaking to a group of Palestinians."

Pope Francis made the remarks in a forthcoming book — "Hope Never Disappoints. Pilgrims Towards a Better World" — that was based on interviews with him.

It's set to be released Tuesday in Italy, Spain and Latin America, the Vatican News reported Sunday.

"According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide," Francis is quoted as saying in the book.

"We should investigate carefully to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies," he adds.

“Palestinian health authorities estimate that tens of thousands of Palestinians have been martyred since the outbreak of the war, a UN report released earlier this month stated that about 70 percent of the documented martyrs in Gaza were women and children, and Zionist military operations are estimated to have destroyed or damaged about 60 percent of buildings in Gaza,” the report said.