Pope calls Gaza bombing 'cruelty, not war'; Israel says 'singling out Jewish state'

"Cruelty is terrorists hiding behind children while trying to murder Israeli children; cruelty is holding 100 hostages for 442 days, including a baby and children, by terrorists and abusing them," the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday night.

"Unfortunately, the Pope has chosen to ignore all of this, as well as the fact that Israel's actions have targeted terrorists who used children as human shields," the Foreign Ministry said. "The pope's remarks are particularly disappointing as they are disconnected from the true and factual context of Israel's fight against jihadist terrorism -- a multi-front war that was forced upon it starting on October 7."

The Pope opened his annual address to Catholic cardinals on Saturday by remarking, "Yesterday, children were bombed. This is cruelty. This is not war. I wanted to say this because it touches the heart."