Pope Francis has said that allegations of a genocide in Gaza should be “carefully investigated” marking some of his strongest criticism yet of Israel’s war in the territory.

ROME, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has suggested the global community should study whether Israel's military campaign in Gaza constitutes a genocide of the Palestinian people, in some of his most explicit criticism yet of Israel's conduct in its year-long war.

Pope Francis called for an investigation into whether Israel's military actions in Gaza legally constitute genocide, according to a book due out this week. Why it matters: The pope has previously criticized Israel's attacks on Gaza as "immoral" and disproportionate,

Pope Francis met a delegation of Israeli hostages freed by Hamas at the Vatican on Thursday (November 14). Some held pictures of loved ones who remain in captivity.

The post Pope Francis meets family members of hostages, prays for their release appeared first on The Times of Israel.

The delegation was led by the Hostage Family Forum, the Foreign Ministry, Israeli embassies in Rome and the Vatican, the government's hostage unit, and the Defense Ministry.