Cardinal Vatican condemns Hamas’ attacks and Israel’s response to Gaza

The Vatican first diplomat condemned the “inhuman and indefensible Hamas” attacks on Monday on Monday on Monday on Monday on October 7 and the “in progress” of Israel in Gaza, warning that even legitimate legitimate legitimate legitimate defense cannot justify the destruction of a “largely defenseless population”.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of the Vatican and one of the advisers of Pope Leo XIV, spoke in an interview marking the second anniversary of the October 7 attack in Hamas against Israel – a raid that killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 people taken hostage.

Parolin said that the military response of Israel has spread far beyond the limits of proportionality, transforming the crowded districts of Gaza into ruins.

“The war waged by the Israeli army to eliminate Hamas activists who do not take into account the fact that it targets a largely defenseless population, already pushed to the edge, in an area where buildings and houses are reduced to rubble,” he told the Vatican media.

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Cardinal Pietro Parolin condemned the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, while calling the current conflict between the two, the “massacre in class” of Israel on October 6, 2025. (Stefano Carofi / IPA / SIPA / IMAGN)

“Those who are attacked have the right to defend themselves,” he said, “but even legitimate defense must respect the principle of proportionality”.

Reuters reported that the Gaza health authorities managed by Hamas claim that Israel’s campaign has led to more than 67,000 deaths in Gaza, mainly civilians.

The remarks are among the most sharp in the Church war. They also mark a change to a more energetic Vatican voice under Leo, who succeeded Pope Francis in May.

Paroline also criticized the world powers for their paralysis.

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A Gazan family walks near the rubble of buildings during the Eid Al-Adha holidays in Gaza City on June 6, 2025. (Mahmoud Issa / Reuters)

“It is … clearly that the international community is unfortunately helpless and that countries really capable of exerting an influence have so far failed to stop the massacre in progress,” he said.

“I cannot repeat the very clear words pronounced by Pope Leo on July 20: ‘I renew my call to the international community to observe humanitarian law and to respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the blind appeal of the force and the forced displacement of the population.’ ‘”

Parolin went further, questioning the morality of arms sales to the parties in the conflict.

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Pope Leo XIV offers his blessing to the faithful at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI room in the Vatican, August 27, 2025. (Riccardo de Luca / Anadolu via Getty Images)

“It is not enough to say that what is happening is unacceptable and to continue to allow this to happen,” he said.

“We must seriously ask ourselves questions about legitimacy … to continue to provide weapons that are used against civilians.”

In July, Pope Leo XIV expressed his sadness and called for a ceasefire after the only Catholic church in Gaza was affected in an apparent Israeli strike, leaving at least two dead and several wounded. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said that “wandering ammunition” had struck the church.

Parolin’s warning lands as European leaders face increasing pressure to make more than issuing worrying statements. Its use of “massacres” echoed the humanitarian groups which say that the civil infrastructure of Gaza collapsed.

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At the same time, he reiterated the church’s request that Hamas free of all the remaining hostages.

“These attacks were inhuman and indefensible,” he said, stressing that the sufferings that no part decreases the other.

Fox News Digital contacted the Vatican on this subject.

Reuters contributed to this report.