Israel has deleted a social media post sending condolences following the death of Pope Francis. The post, published on Monday, was removed hours after being shared without explanation.

A post on the country’s official X account said: “Rest in Peace, Pope Francis. May his memory be a blessing.” The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli foreign ministry officials said the messages on social media were “posted in error” and that the Pope had made comments “against Israel”. “We responded to the Pope’s statements against Israel and the war during his lifetime, and we will not do so after his death,” officials were quoted as saying.

“We respect the feelings of his believers.”

The head of the Catholic Church, who died on Monday aged 88, called for peace in Gaza and earlier this year called the humanitarian situation facing Palestinians as “shameful”.

After a rescue agency in Gaza said an Israeli strike had killed seven children in December, the Pope said: “This is cruelty, this is not war.”

He previously suggested there should be an investigation into whether Israel has committed “genocide” in Gaza.

Israel has strongly denied accusations of genocide and said such claims are baseless.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not commented on the death of the Pope.

However, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog did post a message of condolence.

“I truly hope that his prayers for peace in the Middle East and for the safe return of the hostages will soon be answered,” he said in a social media post.

“May his memory continue to inspire acts of kindness, unity, and hope.”

Thousands queued in the Vatican on Wednesday for the first three days of the Pope’s body lying in state.

Mourners have been waiting in eight-hour queues to pay their final respects to the pontiff inside St Peter's Basilica.

The funeral is being held on Saturday at 10:00 local time (09:00 BST).

His body will be laid to rest in St Mary Major Basilica in Rome, making him the first pontiff to be buried away from the Vatican in more than a century.