GAZA CITY: In a tragic overnight incident, the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza city became the target of an Israeli airstrike, resulting in the loss of at least eight lives, local media reported on Friday. The church had provided shelter to hundreds of Palestinian civilians.
According to the official Wafa news agency, Israeli jet fighters carried out the bombing of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church on Thursday night, leading to the tragic loss of eight Palestinian lives and leaving dozens injured, with a majority of the casualties being women and children.
Civil defense rescue teams have been diligently working to extricate the deceased and provide aid to the injured amidst the debris, as reported by the news agency.
The airstrike not only caused severe damage to the church’s facade but also resulted in the collapse of an adjacent building affiliated with the church, where numerous Palestinian Muslim and Christian families had sought refuge.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian group Hamas, which maintains control over the Gaza Strip, strongly condemned the Israeli airstrike on the historic Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, denouncing it as an expansion of what they called “the Zionist crime machine.”
As of now, the Israeli army has yet to comment on the attack on the church.
Earlier in the day, Israeli airstrikes targeted Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, leading to further casualties.
According to the Palestinian Interior Ministry, six residential structures were obliterated in Israeli airstrikes, resulting in the loss of at least nine lives and leaving over 60 others injured. However, the Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported a higher toll, with at least 21 casualties and 79 injuries, predominantly affecting children and women.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has faced Israeli bombardment and blockade since October 7, was initiated when Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. This multifaceted operation included rocket attacks and incursions into Israel by land, sea, and air, in response to escalating violence by Israeli settlers and the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In retaliation, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron, targeting Hamas positions within the Gaza Strip.
Gaza is currently grappling with a dire humanitarian crisis marked by severe shortages of electricity, water, food, fuel, and medical supplies.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urgently called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” to alleviate the dire humanitarian situation.
As of now, the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 3,478 Palestinians due to Israeli attacks on Gaza.
