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Hamas Welcomes New Pope in Rome

CrossFireArabia
May 8, 2025

Hamas congratulated Cardinal Robert Prevost on Thursday for being elected the new pope, urging him to follow in the footsteps of Pope Francis, who was a strong advocate for the Palestinian cause and condemned Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, was elected as the new pope by the Cardinals in a two-day conclave and will be the first American pontiff in history.

Hamas said in a statement it “extends its sincere congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of his election as Head of the Catholic Church.”

Dear MAGA:

Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting migrants, particularly Venezuelan refugees fleeing economic hardship. He was noted for his special concern for these individuals, emphasizing assistance and integration into… pic.twitter.com/SEbIHdDXT0
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) May 8, 2025

“We wish him success in fulfilling his spiritual and humanitarian mission at a time when the world faces profound crises and tragedies—chief among them, the ongoing brutal Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.”

“We highly value the principled and courageous humanitarian positions taken by the late Pope Francis, including his repeated expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian people and his firm stance against the occupation and its repressive policies.”

“We look forward to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV continuing this ethical and moral path—standing with the oppressed, advocating for justice, and engaging actively within international forums to help end the crime of genocide and ethnic cleansing being perpetrated by the Israeli occupation against children, women, and unarmed civilians in Gaza.”

“We also call for action to halt the ongoing violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites throughout Palestine, and reaffirm the importance of upholding human dignity and religious sanctity everywhere.”

Pope Francis was a staunch advocate for Palestinians and kept in regular contact with Catholics in Gaza amid Israel’s assault. That included daily calls with the priest at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, the only Catholic church in the Palestinian enclave.

Upon his death, Francis also donated his so-called “popemobile” to Gaza to serve as a mobile children’s clinic.
Pope Leo XIV has not said much publicly about Gaza, making it unclear if he will emulate his predecessor according to the Quds News Network.

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Pope Calls For Probe to See If Genocide is Really Happening in Gaza

CrossFireArabia
November 17, 2024

Pope Francis is calling for an investigation to determine whether a genocide is taking place in the Gaza Strip, the Vatican News agency reported on Sunday.

“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of a genocide. It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits into the technical definition formulated by jurists and international bodies,” he said in a passage from his new book of interviews, Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Towards a Better World, which is due out this Tuesday according to Anadolu.

Pope Francis has said the international community should study whether Israel's war in Gaza constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people. pic.twitter.com/QqXjrbBHqE
— V PALESTINE 🇵🇸 (@V_Palestine20) November 17, 2024

“I am thinking above all of those who leave Gaza in the midst of the famine that has struck their Palestinian brothers and sisters given the difficulty of getting food and aid into their territory,” the pontiff added, referring to Israeli blockades which only allow a trickle of aid required by over 2 million people into the embattled enclave.

Israel has continued a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 44,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and rendering the enclave almost uninhabitable.

It also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the blockaded enclave.

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France, Italy, and Spain Condemn Israeli Attacks on UN Peacekeepers

CrossFireArabia
October 12, 2024

France, Italy, and Spain have strongly condemned recent Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, labeling them “unjustifiable” and in violation of international law. This follows two consecutive explosions near the Lebanese-Palestinian border, which injured several members of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The attacks have sparked concern over the increasing risks to UN personnel as tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalate.

In a joint statement, the three European nations expressed outrage, demanding an immediate halt to the violence. “These attacks constitute a serious violation of Israel’s obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and international humanitarian law,” the statement read. The nations also called for increased protection for peacekeepers and urged both sides to de-escalate the situation according to the Quds News Network.

France, which contributes around 700 troops to UNIFIL, has been particularly vocal in its criticism. French President Emmanuel Macron summoned Israel’s envoy and demanded an explanation, emphasizing that the targeting of UN peacekeepers is “absolutely unacceptable.” Macron further proposed halting arms exports to Israel as a means to curb the violence, suggesting that stopping the flow of weapons could help prevent further escalation.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez echoed Macron’s call, urging the international community to cease selling arms to Israel. Following a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sanchez stated, “It is urgent that we stop contributing to the violence by supplying weapons to Israel.” Sanchez has been one of the most outspoken European leaders against Israel’s recent military offensives, which he described as an “invasion” of Lebanon.

Both Macron and Sanchez’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who defended Israel’s military actions as necessary for self-defense. As the conflict intensifies, international leaders are increasingly pressing for diplomatic solutions to prevent further casualties.

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4000 Protesters in Rome Call For End of Israeli Genocide

CrossFireArabia
September 21, 2024

About 4,000 demonstrators marched through central Rome on Saturday, calling for an end to “genocide” against Palestinians.

The crowd protested Israel’s actions in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon.

The protest saw participants carrying Palestinian flags and banners reading “Stop the genocide,” while chanting slogans such as “Free Palestine” and “Murderer Netanyahu.”

A protest took place in Rome, Italy, against the visit of Israeli President Herzog and condemned the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.#GazaGenocide #Gaza_life_matters #Italy #protesters #FreePalestine #Stop_Gaza_Genocide pic.twitter.com/NeXleQgt3j
— Jason D Rose (@JasonDRose87006) July 26, 2024

Demonstrators also criticized Italy’s government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing Rome of complicity in Israel’s actions.

“It’s been nearly a year of this genocide, and now it seems they want to destroy not just Gaza, but the entire West Bank, all of Palestine, and even Lebanon,” said Michela, who was attenting the demonstration according to Anadolu, the Turkish news agency.

Another participant, Sara, emphasized the need to continue protesting, vowing to do so as long as necessary as she asserted that a “free Palestine is a right.”