In a tragic incident, a Greek Orthodox church in the Gaza Strip, which had been providing refuge to hundreds of displaced Palestinians, was struck by an Israeli airstrike overnight. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported the attack, while Palestinian health officials confirmed the loss of 16 lives, news agency Reuters reported. The Church has yet to release an official statement regarding the death toll.
According to the Israeli military, a part of the church was inadvertently damaged during an airstrike targeting a militant command center. The Israeli military is currently reviewing the incident.
Reuters reported Palestinian authorities as saying that approximately 500 Muslims and Christians sought sanctuary from Israeli bombardments within the Greek Orthodox Church of St Porphyrius.
In response to the airtstrike, the Orthodox Church issued a statement, saying, "The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expresses its strongest condemnation of the Israeli airstrike that has struck its church compound in the city of Gaza."
The health ministry under the Hamas-run government in Gaza reported that 16 Palestinian Christians lost their lives in the attack, Reuters report mentioned.
A civil defense worker revealed that two individuals on the upper floors had survived, while those on the lower levels tragically perished and remained buried under the rubble, it added.
Gaza's population of 2.3 million includes approximately 1,000 Christians, the majority of whom are of the Greek Orthodox faith.
The Israeli military explained that their fighter jets had targeted a nearby command and control center used for launching attacks against Israel. In a statement, the military said, "As a result of the IDF strike, a wall of a church in the area was damaged. We are aware of reports of casualties. The incident is under review."
They also clarified, "The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) can unequivocally state that the Church was not the target of the strike", Reuters reported.
Witnesses at the scene reported extensive damage within the church, the report mentioned.
The Palestinian Churches Council, appointed by President Mahmoud Abbas, issued a statement condemning the Israeli airstrike, saying, "This shows that the targets of the Israeli occupation are the unarmed people, children, women, and the elderly."
Since Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, Israel has launched a sustained offensive on densely populated Gaza, resulting in the destruction of buildings and critical infrastructure. Tragically, over 4,100 individuals in Gaza have lost their lives due to Israeli strikes, and more than one million have been left homeless, according to Palestinian health officials. Civilians in Gaza are facing a dire situation, reporting shortages of essential supplies, including food, water, fuel, and medical resources.