"Israeli Embassy Objects to Vatican's Gaza Remarks, Calls for End to Carnage"

Israel toned down its criticism of the Vatican's remarks on the Gaza conflict, changing its description of Cardinal Pietro Parolin's comments from "deplorable" to "regrettable." The Israeli embassy attributed the change to an imprecise translation and emphasized the historical and cultural sensitivities surrounding any comments involving Israel. Tensions between the Vatican and Israel have heightened since the conflict began, with Jewish groups accusing Pope Francis of not characterizing the invasion of Gaza as an act of self-defense.