POPE FRANCIS AND PALESTINE

[Nada Jung]

Pope Francis wielded enormous global influence and his words often resonated beyond the Church.
That's why his comments on Israel's war on Gaza were so significant.
They marked a sharp break from the Vatican's historically cautious stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Pope Francis condemned attacks on civilians and directly criticised Israel, using words like 'terrorism' and 'genocide' – remarks that quickly drew backlash from Israel and its supporters.

Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi reports.
Xavier Abu Eid, a political scientist and former adviser to the Palestine Liberation Organization, says Palestinians have lost a dear friend with the death of Francis, whom he describes as a staunch defender of their right to self-determination