Pope Francis has strongly condemned the recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, labelling the bombing of children as “cruelty” during a meeting with the Roman Curia, the Vatican’s central administration, on Saturday.

“Yesterday, children were bombed. This is not war. This is cruelty. I want to say this because it touches my heart,” the pontiff remarked, expressing his sorrow over the devastating toll on Gaza’s civilian population.

The Pope also criticized the impact of the airstrikes on humanitarian access, highlighting that Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Catholic Church’s highest representative in the Holy Land, was unable to enter Gaza due to the bombardments.

Since Hamas’s attacks on October 7, 2023, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed over 45,000 people, predominantly women and children, according to reports. The military campaign has reduced much of the territory to rubble.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on November 21 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its ongoing military actions in the enclave.

In excerpts from an upcoming book, Pope Francis has reportedly called for an investigation into whether Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to genocide.