IDF allegedly killed two women in church
Numerous Christian families seek refuge from the war in the only Catholic church in Gaza City. According to the congregation, an accident occurs: an Israeli sniper is said to have killed two women. Bullets also hit a monastery.
According to a Catholic church, an Israeli army sniper has shot dead two women in the Gaza Strip. A woman and her daughter, who had sought protection in the church, were killed "in cold blood", the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced.
The sniper shot them on the grounds of the parish, "where there are no warring parties" and most Christian families were seeking refuge from the fighting, it said. The woman had been killed while trying to get the other to safety. Israel's army had not issued a warning beforehand. Seven other people were injured by the fire.
In addition to the attack, several shells from Israeli tanks also hit a monastery on the church grounds, where more than 50 people with disabilities lived. The building is no longer habitable due to the damage caused by an explosion and a fire. The people had been displaced, including some who needed ventilators to survive.
Moran: Family "a few days from death"
When asked, Israel's army has not yet commented on the allegations, which could not be independently verified. A British MP told the BBC news channel that relatives of hers were seeking shelter in the church along with hundreds of other civilians. Her family had no access to food and water and were "a few days away from death", said Layla Moran. After contacting her family on social media, she described the situation as "terrible". Two church employees had been shot dead and their bodies were lying in front of the church, Moran wrote on X.
Around 2.2 million people lived in the Gaza Strip before the war began. The population is almost exclusively Muslim. According to church sources, less than one percent of the population are Christians.
The war was triggered by the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups in Israel on October 7. More than 1,200 people were killed and around 240 hostages were taken to the coastal strip. Israel responded with massive air strikes and a ground offensive.
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The Catholic Church in Gaza City, serving as a sanctuary for numerous Christian families during the conflict, witnessed an unfortunate incident. An Israeli sniper reportedly killed two women within the church grounds, contradicting any presence of warring parties. This tragedy occurred as the women were attempting to evacuate another individual to safety.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem denounced the Israeli army for not issuing a warning beforehand, as seven other individuals were injured due to the shooting incident. The church’s refugee population also included individuals with disabilities, placing more than 50 people at risk within the vicinity of the impacted monastery.
Source: www.ntv.de
