In a recent escalation of the ongoing conflict, an Israeli airstrike has reportedly struck the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza City, a centuries-old sanctuary. The church, built around 1150, has long served as a haven for people of various faiths and is the oldest active church in the region.
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced that the church was sheltering hundreds of displaced Palestinians when the strike occurred. Disturbingly, Palestinian health officials have declared a death toll of 16, all Palestinian Christians, from the incident. This figure could rise as rescue operations continue, with video footage showing a wounded boy being extracted from the debris.
Witness accounts highlighted extensive damage within the church, and many described the situation as dire for the injured being rushed to hospitals. Additionally, an adjacent building reportedly collapsed due to the impact.
Israeli airstrike on Orthodox church in Gaza kills 8 Palestinians, injures several others
Saint Porphyrius, a Greek Orthodox Church that dates back 1,600 yrs. Some 150 displaced Palestinians were taking shelter in the church at the time of the strike.#GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/fBvmTWV5OR — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) October 20, 2023
In response to the situation, the Israeli military explained that the intended target was a nearby command and control center utilized to launch attacks on Israel. They emphasized, "The IDF [Israel Defense Forces] can unequivocally state that the Church was not the target of the strike." Damage to the church's wall was a direct consequence of that strike, as they further clarified.
However, the Palestinian Churches Council, appointed by President Mahmoud Abbas, denounced the attack, stating, "This shows that the targets of the Israeli occupation are the unarmed people, children, women, and the elderly."
Amidst the intensifying conflict since Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, which allegedly killed over 1,400 people, most of them civilians, Gaza's civilian populace is bearing the brunt. Palestinian health officials have reported over 4,100 deaths from subsequent Israeli strikes, and more than a million residents have been rendered homeless.
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem's statement condemned the strike, emphasizing its severity. "Targeting churches and their institutions, along with the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli airstrikes on residential areas, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored," the patriarchate announced.
The Israeli military countered these claims, suggesting that "Hamas intentionally embeds its assets in civilian areas and uses the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields."
This incident, coupled with Israel's broader campaign, has evoked international concern as casualties mount. Amid the ruins, the enduring spirit of Gaza's civilians remains resilient, but the need for a peaceful resolution grows ever more pressing with each passing day.
