The Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned the Vatican Ambassador to "Israel," Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, on Wednesday for a reprimand following Pope Francis's criticism of the ongoing war on Gaza.

During a Christmas meeting with members of the papal cabinet, Pope Francis strongly condemned recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza, describing them as "not a war, but brutality." He highlighted the dire conditions faced by Palestinians in the region and expressed heartbreak over the devastating loss of life.

In a statement, the Israeli Foreign Ministry revealed that the summons followed instructions from Minister Gideon Sa’ar. The Director-General of the Foreign Ministry, Eden Bar Tal, conveyed Israel's dissatisfaction with the Pope's remarks, which were described as "disappointing" and "disconnected from the real context of fighting terrorism," according to the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth.

The Pope’s comments specifically referenced an Israeli airstrike on Friday in central Gaza that targeted a residential home, killing seven people, including four children. He denounced the attack, stating, “I want to say this because it breaks my heart.”

This rare public criticism from the Vatican has underscored the growing international outcry over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.