Pope Francis on Monday stepped up his criticism of Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, calling the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave "very serious and shameful," Reuters reported.
In his annual address to diplomats, which was read out by an aide, Francis appeared to be referring to deaths caused by the winter cold in the Gaza Strip, where there is almost no electricity.
"We cannot in any way accept the bombing of civilians," the statement said. "We cannot accept that children are freezing to death because hospitals are destroyed or the energy system is destroyed," Pope Francis added.
The pope was present during the address but asked an aide to read it as he was recovering from a cold, Reuters noted.