Gaza: Fatal aerial assault on Church building confirmed

Image: Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

Source: ACN, WCC, Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

An aerial assault on Gaza last night (19th October) destroyed a Church building killing Christians who were sheltering there. The news has been confirmed by the Churches and aid agencies.

Aid to the Church in Need I(ACN) reports that at least 16 Christians, including 10 from one family, were killed during the attack, which caused the total collapse of a building in the compound of the Greek Orthodox Church.

According to ACN's project partners this morning, another 15 Christians were trapped under the debris. The Church of Saint Porphyrios itself was not hit.

Among the victims are several young Christians who were part of the 'Employment Generation Project' for Christian youth, run by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Around 400 people, mostly Christians, have been sheltering in the compound since the start of the armed conflict.

The Orthodox compound is located a few hundred metres from the Holy Family Catholic Church, where a further 500 Christians are sheltering.

Many families from the Greek Orthodox compound have had to relocate to the Holy Family, which was already filled to capacity.

According to ACN's sources, the Catholic compound was also hit on Thursday evening, by stun bombs.

The Christian population in the Gaza Strip has repeatedly been asked to evacuate and move south.

But Christians have been unwilling to leave due to the lack of safety and guarantees that people moving from northern to southern Gaza will not be targeted. Speaking to ACN, Sister Nabila said: "We will not go. People have nothing, not even basic things. Where should we go? To die in the street?

"We have elderly people, the Missionaries of Charity are also here, with people with multiple disabilities and elderly. Where should we go?"

ACN asks its benefactors and friends to offer prayers for the victims, the injured and their families and, along with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, requests an immediate halt to the bombing of humanitarian institutions.

Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay, general secretary of the World Council of Churches said: "Unlike reports of a similar attack a week ago, this one has been confirmed by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. Our prayers go out for healing to all those wounded, along with our condolences to Patriarch Theophilos II and all our Greek Orthodox brothers and sisters in Christ."

Pillay said: "We condemn this unconscionable attack on a sacred compound and call upon the world community to enforce protections in Gaza for sanctuaries of refuge, including hospitals, schools, and houses of worship."

In a statement released on 19 October, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem stresses that "targeting churches and its affiliated institutions, in addition to the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who lost their homes as a result of the Israeli bombing of residential areas during the past thirteen days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored."

The statement continued to say that despite the evident targeting of the facilities and shelters of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and other churches - including the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem Hospital, other schools, and social institutions - the Patriarchate, along with the other churches, remains committed to fulfilling its religious and moral duty in providing assistance, support, and refuge to those in need, amidst continuous Israeli demands to evacuate these institutions of civilians and the pressures exerted on the churches in this regard.

The Patriarchate stresses that it will not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty, rooted in its Christian values, to provide all that is necessary in times of war and peace alike.

LINK

Aid to the Church in Need: www.acnuk.org