A prominent cardinal in the Vatican: Israel is committing a massacre in Gaza.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican and one of the prominent diplomats of the Holy See, issued a scathing criticism of Israel for what he described as a "continuing massacre" in the Gaza Strip, in one of the strongest statements from the Catholic Church since the war on the territory began.

Parolin emphasized, in an interview published yesterday, Monday, on the occasion of the second anniversary of the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, that "self-defense is a right," but he added that this right "must consider the standard of proportionality," in a clear indication that the Israeli response exceeds the limits of legitimate defense.

He added that it is clear that the war waged by the Israeli army in Gaza ignores the fact that it is facing an unarmed people, living in a land whose buildings have been destroyed and exhausted by years of siege and devastation.

The cardinal did not limit his criticism to Israel, but also directed a sharp critique at the international community, stating: "It is clear that the international community is powerless, and that the countries capable of influencing have done nothing so far to stop the ongoing massacre," hinting at the silence and inaction of major powers in pressing for a ceasefire and stopping the bloodshed in Gaza.

He added: "It is not enough to say that what is happening is unacceptable and then allow it to continue. We must ask serious questions about the legitimacy of continuing to supply the parties with weapons that are used against civilians."

In response, the Israeli embassy to the Vatican expressed regret over Parolin's statements, considering them "well-intentioned without a doubt," but they "focus on criticizing Israel and ignore Hamas's ongoing refusal to release prisoners or stop the violence," according to a post by the embassy on the X platform on Tuesday morning.

The embassy considered the use of the term "massacre" to describe Israeli military operations "problematic," emphasizing that "there can be no moral equivalence between the two parties."

Israel continues its war and collective extermination in Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in the martyrdom of more than 67,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 169,000 others, most of whom are children and women, with famine claiming the lives of 460 Palestinians, including 154 children, over the past two years.