Israel’s response to the death of Pope Francis has drawn criticism, with signs of fresh tension over the Vatican’s position on the Gaza conflict. BBC reports could confirm
While many world leaders sent immediate tributes, Israel’s official condolence message came four days later from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The brief two-sentence statement offered sympathy and prayers for the late Pope, who passed away on Easter Monday.
An earlier condolence post by Israel’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on the day of the Pope’s death — which included a photo of the pontiff at Jerusalem’s Western Wall and read, “May his memory be a blessing” — was quickly deleted without explanation. Israeli media later reported it was posted “in error,” a decision some former diplomats called a mistake.
Unlike other countries represented by heads of state, Israel will be represented at Saturday’s funeral by its ambassador to the Vatican, Yaron Sideman, instead of a top government official — a notable contrast to Israel’s delegation at Pope John Paul II’s funeral in 2005.
Observers believe the strained relationship follows Pope Francis’s outspoken comments about civilian suffering in Gaza, which has frustrated Israeli officials in recent months.
