Pope Francis has called for an investigation into whether Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip constitute genocide, according to excerpts from a forthcoming book.

Israel’s attacks, which have killed more than 40,000 peopleseen largely as retaliation for the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“According to some experts, what is happening in Gaza has characteristics of a genocide“, according to the Pope published excerpts of the book. The Pope adds that “it should be carefully researched to determine whether it fits the technical definition formulated by lawyers and international bodies,” according to the excerpts published by the Italian daily La Stampa on Sunday.

It is the first time that Pope Francis has spoken of potential genocide to describe the conflict in Gaza. It was reported by the Associated Press. In September, he suggested that Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon were immoral and disproportionate.

The book – titled “Hope Never Disappoints. Pilgrims Towards a Better World” – is released ahead of the Pope’s jubilee in 2025. It was written by Hernán Reyes Alcaide based on interviews with the Pope.