Israeli Forces Kill Christian Mother & Daughter in ‘Cold Blood’ Inside Gaza Church
On Saturday, Israeli snipers killed two Palestinian Christian women – an elderly mother and her daughter – at the Holy Family Church in Gaza’s Al-Zaytoun neighborhood. The incident occurred as Nahida Khalil Boulos Anton and her daughter Samar Kamal Anton were walking to the Sister’s Convent within the church compound, where approximately 600 displaced people, mostly Palestinian Christians, had sought refuge from ongoing bombardment.
Israeli tanks, having surrounded the Catholic parish, opened fire on those moving within its courtyard, as reported by Wafa news agency and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. This attack resulted in the deaths of Nahida and Samar, with seven other individuals injured while attempting to shield others inside the church.
The Latin Patriarchate condemned these actions, emphasizing that the shootings were unprovoked and executed in cold blood. The statement highlighted the absence of any militants in the church premises, undermining any justification for the attack.
On the following day, Israeli forces targeted the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) in Gaza, sheltering 300 displaced people. This bombing inflicted further casualties among the Palestinians.
Additionally, an Israeli missile strike damaged the convent’s electric generator and fuel tank. This attack endangered 54 disabled persons taking shelter there, as noted by the Patriarchate. The damage rendered a building housing these individuals uninhabitable, leaving them without essential medical equipment like respirators.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Rafah in southern Gaza, indicated that the church had been subjected to direct Israeli bombardment over the previous days. He described a situation where snipers targeted every moving object in the yard, leading to widespread destruction.
According to the Vatican press agency, these strikes caused three injuries. Mahmoud further commented on the dire situation of the Christian community in Gaza, stating, “The 800 remaining Christians in Gaza are on the verge of extinction. They’ve made life very difficult for this community.”
The targeted attacks on these religious sites and their inhabitants during the Christmas season have sparked outrage and concern for the future of one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.
The IDF denied responsibility. “No reports of a hit on the church, nor civilians being injured or killed, were raised,” the IDF said in an unsigned statement. “A review of the IDF’s operational findings support this.”
“I am wondering if the accusations will be ‘these were Catholic branch of Hamas!’ Not only the families, there are 50 kids with physical and mental disabilities that sisters are nursing.”
Gaza Aid Worker to Washington Post
From Thursday to Sunday, Gaza experienced widespread network outages, impacting cellular and internet services. Only Gazans with eSIM cards or those using the Oredoo carrier in the north had limited access. These outages hindered communication for those inside the church.
British lawmaker Layla Moran revealed that her family members, trapped in the church, were facing dire conditions, lacking food and water. Moran expressed grave concerns for their survival to the BBC.
Attack on Convent of the Sisters of Mother Teresa
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported a midday sniper attack and an IDF tank rocket striking the Convent of the Sisters of Mother Teresa. This assault destroyed the convent’s fuel and electricity supply, making the building uninhabitable and displacing over 54 disabled residents, some reliant on respirators.
Pope Deplores Killings, Says Israel is Committing Terrorism
This is what wars do. But here we have gone beyond wars. This is not war. This is terrorism.
Pope Francis, referring to Israeli actions
“I continue to receive very grave and painful news from Gaza,” Francis said at his weekly blessing.
“Unarmed civilians are the objects of bombings and shootings. And this happened even inside the Holy Family parish complex, where there are no terrorists, but families, children, people who are sick or disabled, nuns.”
“Some would say ‘It is war. It is terrorism.’ Yes, it is war. It is terrorism,” he said.
It was the second time in less than a month that the pope used the word “terrorism” while speaking of events in Gaza.
On November 22, after meeting separately with Israeli relatives of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinians with family in Gaza, he said: “This is what wars do. But here we have gone beyond wars. This is not war. This is terrorism.”