ROME – Without mentioning Pope Francis directly, the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See hit back against the pontiff’s condemnation Sunday of the resumption of “heavy Israeli bombings” in Gaza, saying renewed military action is because Hamas is not respecting ceasefire conditions.
“The Israeli operation is conducted in full conformity with international law and seeks to reduce the civilian damage to a minimum,” a March 24 statement from the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See said.
It insisted that Israel’s recent military activity in the Gaza Strip is being conducted “in full conformity with international law. While Hamas deliberately targets civilians, Israel adopts extraordinary measures to reduce the civilian damage to a minimum”.
