2023-10-21 00:58:47
At least 18 Palestinian Christians were killed by a bombing by the Israeli Army on the Orthodox church of Saint Porphyry in the Gaza Strip, where almost half a thousand people, including women and children, were taking refuge, official sources reported this Friday.
“An Israeli airstrike tonight targeted the Orthodox Church of St. Porphyry in the Al Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City,” the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported.
The Ministry of Health of the Gaza Strip, de facto controlled by Hamas, said that the attack left “18 (deadly) victims of Palestinian Christian families.”
Issa Mousleh, spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, confirmed that at least 16 people died from the impact of the Israeli projectiles, but did not rule out that the figure was higher because “many of the approximately 450 people that the church housed are under the rubble.” , and there are no effective tools in place to remove them quickly.”
(EFE)
The precise number of injured is unknown at this time.
The Israeli Army acknowledged that its fighter jets attacked a command and control center belonging to the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, and as a result, “a wall of a church in the central area was damaged.”
“We are aware of reports of casualties. The incident is under review,” a military spokesman said, stressing that “the Church was not the target of the attack.”
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the Israeli bombing, stating that “attacking churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes” due to the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, “constitutes a war crime.”
(EFE)
The Israeli Army justifies its attacks on homes, temples, schools and other civilian structures in Gaza, arguing that Hamas installs its military assets in civilian areas and uses residents as “human shields.”
Several days ago, Israel ordered the evacuation of the entire northern Strip – including Gaza City – to the south, ensuring that its attacks would be concentrated in the northern area. However, the bombings have not stopped in the southern area.
“At least 21 Palestinian civilians, including children, were killed last night and 79 others were wounded, most of whom were women and children, in a series of Israeli airstrikes against the town of Khan Younis” in the southern Strip, he said. Wafa citing local sources.
The Israeli bombings fell on six residential houses and among the dead, eight are from the same family.
(EFE)
Gazans face this Friday the fourteenth consecutive day of Israeli bombings, after Israel declared war on Hamas on October 7 following a massive ground and air attack by the Islamist group, which left more than 1,400 dead in Israeli territory.
Israeli attacks have so far left at least 4,137 dead and 13,162 injured in the Gaza Strip, most of them women and children.
In addition, the Gazans are experiencing a serious crisis due to shortages of water, food, electricity and fuel, after the total block imposed by Israel.
INITIAL ESTIMATES
The Holy Orthodox Order of Saint George said “with a grateful heart” that the initial estimate of deaths from the bombing was incorrect. At the time of publication, it was noted that the deceased were between 20 to 25 people, half of them children.
To read more: Israel bombs Orthodox church in Gaza and kills at least 18 Palestinians
“While we are glad that the loss of life was less than estimated, our hearts ache for the lives lost.”
In an initial statement yesterday the 19th, the Order reported that between 100 to 200 people had died. Although the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported after the Israeli bombing that there was only a report of one deceased girl.
In addition, the Order shared an initial list with the names of the deceased without identifying their ages.
(ESPECIAL)
#Israel #bombs #Orthodox #church #Gaza #killing #Palestinians