Latest news with #PalestinianChristians
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 days ago
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt condemns Israeli targeting of worship places in Gaza - Foreign Affairs
Egypt condemned on Thursday in the strongest terms the Israeli occupation forces' bombardment and targeting of places of worship in the Gaza Strip, including mosques and churches—the latest of which was the Latin Patriarchate Church. In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry described these actions as a new crime and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. The ministry further expressed its strong denunciation of Israel's systematic violations of all norms of international humanitarian law in its war against innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Additionally, Cairo called on the international community to put an end to these violations and to oblige Israel, as the occupying power, to fulfil its responsibilities in protecting places of worship and refraining from any form of harm to holy sites. Earlier Thursday, three people were killed, including women, and seven others injured, including a pastor, in Israeli bombing of the Latin Patriarchate Church in Gaza, which houses displaced persons, Palestinian news agency (WAFA) reported. The Israeli strike on Gaza's only church has sparked wide global condemnation. Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply saddened" by the Israeli strike on the church and renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire, expressing his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region. French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the Israeli bombing, affirming France's solidarity with all Palestinian Christians who, from Gaza to Taybeh, are under threat. He also stressed that "the continuation of this war is unjustifiable." "A ceasefire must be established immediately, and civilians and captives must be freed from the danger of endless war," Macron wrote on X. Since the beginning of its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 58,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, and injured nearly 140,000 others. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
RTHK
5 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
Israel PM voices regret after Gaza church strike
Israel PM voices regret after Gaza church strike Mourners attend the burial of two Palestinian Christians killed in the Israeli strike on the Holy Family Church. Photo: Reuters Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed regret after Israeli tank fire killed three people at a Catholic church in Gaza on Thursday, blaming a "stray" round for the deaths after a phone call with US President Donald Trump. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said 10 others were also wounded in the attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City – the territory's only Catholic house of worship – including parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. Witnesses and the Latin Patriarch said a tank shell slammed directly into the church around 10:30am (0730 GMT), but the Israeli military later said an initial inquiry "suggests that fragments from a shell... hit the church mistakenly". Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life at Holy Family, which the late Pope Francis had kept in regular contact with throughout the war between Israel and Hamas militants. Israel's military maintained it made "every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures," while Netanyahu promised an investigation. "Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy," Netanyahu said in a statement. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had called Netanyahu after having "not a positive reaction" to news of the strike. "It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic church, that's what the prime minister relayed to the president," she said. (AFP)
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Three killed and several injured in Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
Several other people, including the parish priest, were injured. The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish's 60-year-old caretaker and an 84-year-old woman receiving psycho-social support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were among those killed in the attack. The Israeli military said it is aware of the incident and is investigating. Palestinian Christians (Adel Hana/AP) Parish priest Fr Gabriel Romanelli, who was close to the late Pope Francis, was also injured. The church compound was sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the dead and people injured. The Israeli military said it 'makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them'. Israel accuses Hamas militants of operating from civilians areas. In a rare move, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted an apology on social media. 'Israel expresses deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty,' the ministry said. Italian premier Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the strike on the church. 'The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude,' she said. The church is just a stone's throw from Al-Ahli Hospital, Mr Naem said, noting that the area around both the church and the hospital has been repeatedly struck for over a week. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which also has a church in Gaza that previously sustained damage from Israeli strikes, said the Holy Family Church was sheltering 600 displaced people, including many children, and 54 people with disabilities. It said the building suffered significant damage. Targeting a holy site 'is a blatant affront to human dignity and a grave violation of the sanctity of life and the inviolability of religious sites, which are meant to serve as safe havens during times of war,' the Church said in a statement. Separately, another person was killed and 17 injured Thursday in a strike against two schools sheltering displaced people in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike.
South Wales Argus
5 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Three killed and several injured in Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
Several other people, including the parish priest, were injured. The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish's 60-year-old caretaker and an 84-year-old woman receiving psycho-social support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were among those killed in the attack. The Israeli military said it is aware of the incident and is investigating. Palestinian Christians (Adel Hana/AP) Parish priest Fr Gabriel Romanelli, who was close to the late Pope Francis, was also injured. The church compound was sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the dead and people injured. The Israeli military said it 'makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them'. Israel accuses Hamas militants of operating from civilians areas. In a rare move, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted an apology on social media. 'Israel expresses deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty,' the ministry said. Italian premier Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the strike on the church. 'The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude,' she said. The church is just a stone's throw from Al-Ahli Hospital, Mr Naem said, noting that the area around both the church and the hospital has been repeatedly struck for over a week. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which also has a church in Gaza that previously sustained damage from Israeli strikes, said the Holy Family Church was sheltering 600 displaced people, including many children, and 54 people with disabilities. It said the building suffered significant damage. Targeting a holy site 'is a blatant affront to human dignity and a grave violation of the sanctity of life and the inviolability of religious sites, which are meant to serve as safe havens during times of war,' the Church said in a statement. Separately, another person was killed and 17 injured Thursday in a strike against two schools sheltering displaced people in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike.
Western Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Three killed and several injured in Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
Several other people, including the parish priest, were injured. The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish's 60-year-old caretaker and an 84-year-old woman receiving psycho-social support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were among those killed in the attack. The Israeli military said it is aware of the incident and is investigating. Palestinian Christians (Adel Hana/AP) Parish priest Fr Gabriel Romanelli, who was close to the late Pope Francis, was also injured. The church compound was sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the dead and people injured. The Israeli military said it 'makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them'. Israel accuses Hamas militants of operating from civilians areas. In a rare move, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted an apology on social media. 'Israel expresses deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty,' the ministry said. Italian premier Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the strike on the church. 'The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude,' she said. The church is just a stone's throw from Al-Ahli Hospital, Mr Naem said, noting that the area around both the church and the hospital has been repeatedly struck for over a week. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which also has a church in Gaza that previously sustained damage from Israeli strikes, said the Holy Family Church was sheltering 600 displaced people, including many children, and 54 people with disabilities. It said the building suffered significant damage. Targeting a holy site 'is a blatant affront to human dignity and a grave violation of the sanctity of life and the inviolability of religious sites, which are meant to serve as safe havens during times of war,' the Church said in a statement. Separately, another person was killed and 17 injured Thursday in a strike against two schools sheltering displaced people in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike.
