Caritas staff member and family killed in Gaza

A Caritas Jerusalem staff member, aged 26, and her family were killed in an airstrike next to St Porphyrios Church in Gaza last night. CAFOD has issued the following statement:

We are shocked to hear from our partner at Caritas Jerusalem that a staff member along with her child and husband were killed when the hall adjacent to the St Porphyrios Church in Gaza was struck last night. Her sister and two children were also among the casualties. The hall provided refuge for 411 people and five Caritas staff members were present.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and all those injured and affected.

We stand with the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem in strongly condemning the attack, which claimed the lives of innocent civilians, who were sheltering following 13 days of airstrikes, and call for an immediate cessation to the violence which is causing such suffering and bloodshed.

Where they are able to, our partners continue to respond, helping those most in need.

How you can help:

- Donate to CAFOD's Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal

- Write to the UK Foreign Secretary:

Read the joint statement issued by 12 aid agencies, including CAFOD on 14 October.