VATICAN CITY: Relations between the Vatican and Israel grew tense yesterday when the Jewish state condemned an aide to Pope Benedict for calling Gaza “a big concentration camp.”

Israel criticized Cardinal Renato Martino as the pope delivered a speech to diplomats in which he spoke out against the use of violence by both Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

On Wednesday, Martino, president of the Vatican’s Council for Justice and Peace, delivered the Vatican’s toughest criticism of Israel since its offensive in the Palestinian-ruled enclave, calling Gaza a “big concentration camp.”

“We are astounded to hear from a spiritual dignitary words that are so far removed from truth and dignity,” Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.

The row over Martino’s remark as well as Israel’s bombing of Gaza have cast a shadow over negotiations for the pope to visit the Middle East in May, a trip some diplomats say is now in doubt.

In a follow-up interview in Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper yesterday, Martino defended his comments, saying the people of Gaza “are surrounded by a wall that is difficult to breach, in conditions that go against human dignity.”