Pope Francis Condemns Israeli Sniper’s Killing of Women at Gaza Church as Terrorism
Pope Francis has strongly condemned the killing of two women at a Catholic church in the Gaza Strip by an Israeli sniper, describing it as terrorism. The incident occurred on Saturday when the women, identified as Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar Kamal Anton, were seeking shelter at the Holy Family Parish.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that the women had been walking to the Sister’s Convent at the church when shots rang out. The ecclesiastical office stated that one woman was killed as she tried to carry the other to safety, and seven other people were wounded in the attack.
The pope, in his weekend blessing, denounced the attack on unarmed civilians inside the parish complex, where there are no belligerents. He emphasized that the compound housed families, children, people who are sick or disabled, and nuns. This comes amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which the pope has previously characterized as terrorism.
The Israel Defense Forces initially disputed the claim of an attack on the church, but later confirmed that an “incident” at the church had indeed taken place. An IDF spokesperson stated that troops were operating against a threat they identified in the area of the church, and the IDF is conducting a thorough review of the incident.
The Vatican also republished the Jerusalem patriarchate’s statement, with the Holy See adding that Israel justified the attack by claiming the presence of a missile launcher in the parish.
The killings in the parish come in the wake of the IDF admitting it had mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages, and the military has said the incident is under investigation.
The incident has sparked international outrage and calls for an independent investigation into the Israeli military’s actions in the Gaza Strip. Pope Francis’ strong condemnation adds to the mounting pressure on Israel to be held accountable for its actions.