While Pope Francis has criticized the war before, this is the first time he has publicly suggested an investigation, according to excerpts from a new book.

Pope Francis has called for an investigation into whether Israel's military actions in Gaza meet the criteria for genocide. In excerpts from his upcoming book, published Sunday by La Stampa, the Pope referenced experts who believe the situation in Gaza has "characteristics of genocide.

Francis has not previously described the situation in Gaza as a genocide in public. But last year he was at the centre of a messy dispute after a meeting with a group of Palestinians at the Vatican, who insisted he had used the word with them in private, while the Vatican said he had not.