What's happened
Pope Francis has urged an investigation into potential genocide in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike that killed at least 30 people. The call comes amid reports of over 44,000 Palestinian deaths since the conflict began, with Human Rights Watch accusing Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity through forced displacement and starvation tactics.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Guardian reports that Pope Francis has called for an investigation into potential genocide in Gaza, emphasizing the staggering death toll of over 44,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children. This call for accountability comes as Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of war crimes, stating that forced displacement and starvation tactics are part of a systematic violation of international law. In contrast, Israel maintains that its military actions are justified and aimed solely at dismantling Hamas's capabilities, as reported by the South China Morning Post. The Independent highlights that HRW's findings indicate no military justification for the mass displacement of civilians, urging international sanctions against Israel. The Guardian also notes that the UN has pointed to Israel's actions as consistent with genocide, raising significant legal and diplomatic concerns.
How we got here
The conflict escalated after Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in significant casualties. Israel's military response has led to widespread destruction and displacement in Gaza, raising international concerns about human rights violations and potential war crimes.
More on these topics
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Gaza may refer to:
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization, headquartered in New York City, that conducts research and advocacy on human rights.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is an Israeli politician serving as Prime Minister of Israel since 2009, and previously from 1996 to 1999. Netanyahu is also the Chairman of the Likud – National Liberal Movement.
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs, are an ethnonational group comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine continuously over the centuries and who today are largely culturally and
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The International Criminal Court is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal that sits in The Hague, Netherlands.