The Vatican’s condemnation of the Israeli military’s “disproportionate” response in Gaza sparked a new row with Tel Aviv. The Vatican Secretary of State cited 30,000 deaths in Gaza, dismissing the Israeli military’s “self-defence” justification behind the assault. “Outraged” by the Israeli military’s “carnage” in Gaza, Parolin openly criticised Israel for its military actions. Israel’s embassy to the Holy See lashed out at Parolin’s “deplorable declaration” and accused Hamas of turning Gaza into “the biggest terrorist base ever seen”. However, Israel later toned down its criticism of the Vatican, saying the comments by the Pope’s deputy were “regrettable” rather than “deplorable.”