Pope Francis faced public backlash following his call For an investigation into whether Israeli actions in Gaza meet the criteria for genocide.

The Wall Street Journal In an opinion piece, the editorial team accused the pope of “turning” against Israel, saying his comments offered “aid and comfort to the enemies of the Jewish people and of all civilized society” after indicating that the heartbreaking assault on Gaza could amount to genocide – a view consistent with that of genocide and legal experts.

Israeli officials and advocacy groups also condemned the pope’s remarks, employing inflammatory rhetoric to discredit his position.

Yaron Sideman, Israel’s ambassador to the Vatican, blasted the pontiff’s comments, saying Israel was “defending itself” on “seven different fronts.”

“Any attempt to call it by another name targets the Jewish state,” Sidemen said wrote on X.

The pro-Israeli group Combat Antisemitism Movement, accused of politicizing anti-Semitism, said the pope’s statement looks like “a possible opening of an eighth front.”

“For a pope who appears to value fairness and peace, we see that the Jewish state once again appears to be the exception,” CAM CEO Sacha Roytman said in a statement.

“It would behoove Pope Francis to choose his words more carefully as they recall a horrific and bloody history of Catholic religious leaders attacking Jews for the pleasure of others in public in tribunals and Inquisitions where the Jew would always be recognized guilty, whatever the reason.”

John Fetterman, a senator who has been a vocal supporter of Israel’s war on Gaza, wrote on X that he had rejected “in the strongest terms” any investigation into Israel.

According to excerpts published Sunday from a forthcoming book, Pope Francis said what is happening in Gaza has the characteristics of genocide.

The book, Hope Never Disappoints: Pilgrims Towards a Better Worldwritten by Hernán Reyes Alcaide, includes interviews with Francis.

Although Pope Francis has previously spoken out about Israel’s war on Gaza, this was the first time he openly called for an investigation into allegations of genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.

“We should carefully investigate whether this meets the technical definition formulated by legal scholars and international bodies,” he added.

The Pope called for a ceasefire and disparaged Israel’s killing of children in Gaza in September, calling it “ugly.” He also called Israeli attacks on church in Gaza described as ‘terrorism’

At least 17,400 children have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel’s war, which has devastated the territory.

Last year, Pop Francis also met with relatives of Israeli prisoners in Gaza and Palestinians living through the war in Israel.