VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s top diplomat sharply criticized Israel’s “ongoing massacre” in Gaza in comments published on Monday — one of the Catholic Church’s strongest condemnations of Israel’s war against the Hamas terror group.

In an interview tied to the second anniversary of Hamas’s massacre on southern communities on October 7, 2023, Cardinal Pietro Parolin also called the onslaught “inhuman and indefensible” and urged Hamas to free remaining hostages.

“Those who are attacked have a right to defend themselves, but even legitimate defense must respect the principle of proportionality,” said Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state and one of Pope Leo’s top deputies.

“The war waged by the Israeli army to eliminate Hamas militants disregards the fact that it is targeting a largely defenseless population, already pushed to the brink, in an area where buildings and homes are reduced to rubble,” he said.

Israel has said it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas, including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques.

“It is … clear that the international community is, unfortunately, powerless and that the countries truly capable of exerting influence have so far failed to act to stop the ongoing massacre,” Parolin told the Vatican’s media outlet.

The Vatican, which has embassies in many capitals, normally uses guarded language in addressing conflicts, preferring to avoid press coverage and operate behind the scenes.

But Leo, elected in May after the death of Pope Francis, has been stepping up criticism of Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

He has urged Israel to let in more aid and raised the issue of Gaza in a meeting with President Isaac Herzog in September.

Parolin added, “It’s not enough to say that what is happening is unacceptable and then continue to allow it to happen.

“We must seriously ask ourselves about the legitimacy … of continuing to supply weapons that are being used against civilians.” He did not name any countries.

War erupted when Hamas-led terrorists rampaged through southern communities on October 7, 2023, murdering some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry says more than 67,000 people in the Strip have been killed or are presumed dead in the fighting so far, though the toll cannot be verified and does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. Israel says it has killed over 22,000 combatants in battle as of August and another 1,600 terrorists inside Israel during the October 7 onslaught.

Israel’s toll in the ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza and in military operations along the border with the Strip stands at 471. The toll includes two police officers and three Defense Ministry civilian contractors.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.