Israeli soldier kills two Christian women at Holy Family Parish in Gaza
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An Israeli soldier shot and killed two Christian women—an elderly mother named Nahida and her daughter Samar—on the premises of the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City. The incident occurred Saturday noon as the victims were walking to the Sister's Convent, seeking safety during the Israel-Hamas war.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem revealed that the shooting took place without any prior warning and inside the Parish, where no belligerents were present. The two women were shot in cold blood, with one losing her life while attempting to carry the other to safety. Seven others were wounded as they tried to protect fellow shelter-seekers.
The church, accommodating Christians in Gaza, has been a target of direct Israeli bombardment in recent days, sustaining significant damage. Snipers have reportedly been targeting any movement within the churchyard, further escalating the peril faced by those seeking refuge.
The patriarchate also reported that three projectiles fired by an Israeli tank struck a convent of the Sisters of Mother Teresa charity, destroying its generator and fuel supplies. This left a building housing 54 disabled individuals uninhabitable, with the displaced now without access to essential respirators.
The Vatican press agency confirmed three additional injuries resulting from the strikes. Pope Francis condemned the killings, describing them as part of a "targeted death campaign" against the world's oldest Christian community, especially poignant during the Christmas season. The Pope suggested that Israel's actions in Gaza amounted to "terrorism" tactics.
This tragic incident follows a broader trend of dwindling Christian presence in Gaza, with only around 1,000 Christians remaining out of the 3,000 in 2007. The Palestinian Christians face increased challenges due to the Israeli blockade since Hamas assumed control in 2007.
Italy's top diplomat, Antonio Tajani, issued a heartfelt appeal to the Israeli government and army to protect Christian places of worship, emphasizing that these sites were not hiding places for Hamas terrorists.
As investigations into the Holy Family church attack are underway, the already besieged Christian community in Gaza remains resilient, emphasizing solidarity among all residents, regardless of faith, in the face of shared suffering and siege.
