The Catholic pontiff says that international rules have been “replaced by alleged law to dominate others”.
Pope Leo XIV deplored what he described as the rise in baking power on the rules of international law while raging conflicts in the world and global institutions continue to end abuses and war crimes.
“It is discouraging to see today that the force of international law and humanitarian law no longer seems restrictive, replaced by the alleged law to dominate others,” said the pontiff in an article on social networks on Thursday.
“It is unworthy and ashamed for humanity and for the leaders of the nations.”
Leo has not developed his remarks, but his statement comes in the midst of growing calls to end the Israeli assault on Gaza, which the main defenders of rights and the United Nations experts described as a genocide.
Israel has faced growing accusations of having violated international humanitarian law, a set of rules intended to protect civilians in conflict, during his conflict with the Palestinians.
Supported by the United States, the Israeli army has leveled large parts of Gaza, moved almost all its population and killed at least 56,156 in the territory, according to health officials.
Earlier this month, the former spokesperson for the US State Department Matthew Miller, who led Washington’s defense of Israel’s conduct during the Joe Biden administration, acknowledged that the Israeli army had “undoubtedly” committed war crimes in Gaza.
Israel is in defiance of several international resolutions, including decisions of the International Criminal Court, the first United Nations court, against the Israeli blockade and murders in Gaza.
Last year, the CIJ also declared the occupation by Israel of the Palestinian territory – East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza – illegal and called for its “as quickly as possible”.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has published arrest mandates against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant for possible war crimes in Gaza, in particular by using famine as a weapon of war.
But most members of the ICC, especially in Europe, have maintained their deep trade and their military ties with Israel despite the accusations.
After having succeeded Pope Francis in May, becoming the first pontiff in the United States, Leo pleaded for the end of the war against Gaza.
“The ceasefire now,” said Leo, the best spiritual authority for around 1.4 billion Catholics in the world in May.
“From the Gaza Strip, we intend to rise more and more with more and more insistence to the heavens, the cries of mothers and fathers which agripate the lifeless bodies of their children, and who are continuously forced to move in search of a little food and water and a safer shelter of bombings.”
While the war in Gaza continues, deadly conflicts and abuse relationships in Sudan and Ukraine have also persisted.
