By MEE staff Published date: 25 April 2025 12:59 BST

"Meanwhile, some officials, including the former ambassador to Italy, Dror Idar, said no representatives should attend the pope's funeral on Saturday because he "incited antisemitism".

Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88, was an outspoken supporter of the Palestinian people during Israel’s ongoing 18-month assault on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian social media users, including many from Gaza, have paid tributes to him."