Vatican Cardinal condemns Israel’s actions in Gaza as “ongoing massacre”
Vatican City: The Vatican’s top diplomat, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has strongly criticised Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, describing it as an “ongoing massacre” of a defenceless population. His remarks, published on Monday, mark one of the Catholic Church’s most severe condemnations of Israel’s actions since the war began.
Speaking on the eve of the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks on Israeli communities, Parolin called those attacks “inhuman and indefensible” and urged Hamas to release all remaining hostages. However, he maintained that Israel’s response had violated the principle of proportionality.
“Those who are attacked have a right to defend themselves, but even legitimate defence must respect proportionality,” said Parolin, who serves as the Vatican’s Secretary of State and one of Pope Leo’s closest aides. “The war waged by the Israeli army to eliminate Hamas militants disregards the fact that it is targeting a largely defenceless population, already pushed to the brink, in an area where buildings and homes are reduced to rubble.”
Parolin further stated that the international community appeared “powerless” and that nations with real influence had “failed to act to stop the ongoing massacre.” He questioned the morality of continuing to supply weapons “being used against civilians,” though he did not name specific countries.
Since the 2023 Hamas-led assault that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza has reportedly killed more than 67,000 people, most of them civilians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Under Pope Leo, elected in May following the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican has intensified its criticism of Israel’s blockade and military actions, urging greater humanitarian access and pressing the issue in diplomatic meetings, including a September discussion with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
Parolin concluded, “It’s not enough to say that what is happening is unacceptable and then continue to allow it to happen.”
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No benefit for K'taka from union budget: Deputy CM Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said that there was no benefit for the state from the union budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament.
He, however, said that he is yet to go through the budget in detail.
"There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi now (after repealing the MGNREGA act that was named after Gandhi) ," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters here, he demanded that the MGNREGA act be restored, as he also made it clear that the new rural employment legislation -- VB-G RAM G -- that has been enacted with a 60:40 percent fund sharing formula between the Centre and state governments, cannot be implemented.
"I don't see any major share for our state from this budget," he added.
Stating that there were expectations for Bengaluru from the central budget, Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in-charge of the city's development, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called it a "global city", "but what has the central government done for it."
He further pointed out at the troubles that sugar factories, especially those from the cooperative sector, face, due to alleged lack of decisions or measures by the central government to help them.
The Centre has the right to fix MSP for the farmers' produce. "They will have to take necessary measures to help the farmers," Shivakumar added.
