A yet-to-be-ascertained number of people have been reportedly killed as an Israeli military strike hit a church compound in Gaza in an attempt to capture Hamas terrorists, Naija News learnt.
Hamas-controlled interior ministry confirmed the latest strike by the Israeli military, stating that several displaced people sheltering at the worship centre were affected by the Thursday attack.
The strike left a “large number of martyrs and injured” at the compound of the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, the ministry said in a press release.
AFP quoted witnesses to have said that the airstrike seemed to have been directed towards a location adjacent to the place of worship, which had become a sanctuary for numerous Gaza inhabitants amidst the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian enclave.
Upon being contacted, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) told the media that their fighter jets had targeted a command and control centre responsible for launching rockets and mortars towards Israel.
“As a result of the IDF strike, a wall of a church in the area was damaged,” it said, adding, “We are aware of reports on casualties. The incident is under review.”
It was further gathered that the Israeli strike damaged the facade of the church and caused an adjacent building to collapse, adding that many injured people were evacuated to hospital.
Naija News understand that Saint Porphyrius is the oldest church still in use in Gaza and is located in the city’s historic neighbourhood.
Patriarchate Condemn War
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem has since expressed its “strongest condemnation” of the strike at its church compound.
In a statement made available to the media, the Patriarchate said: “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 over the past 13 days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored.”
It noted that the church is not far from the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital, which was hit by a deadly airstrike on Tuesday.
Naija News understands that both Israel and Hamas have had their share of blame for the bloody carnage, but neither the provenance of the strike nor the death toll could immediately be independently verified.
We Want You To Win – British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak Backs Israel Against Hamas
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, met on Thursday to discuss the ongoing war with Hamas.
Naija News reported earlier that Sunak arrived in Israel to meet Netanyahu over the ongoing war between his country and Palestine’s terrorist sect, Hamas.
During their meeting in Tel Aviv, Sunak assured Netanyahu that Britain wants Israel to overcome Hamas in their ongoing war and that Britain will stand with Israel in solidarity.
Recall that Israel announced a few days ago that its military had begun a ground offensive attack into Gaza to capture Hamas terrorists in the region. Speaking with Netanyahu today, Sunak reiterated that the United Kingdom was solidly behind Israel’s right, as enshrined in international law, to “go after Hamas terrorists.”
The British Prime Minister, however, acknowledged that the Palestinian people are also Hamas’ victims and that Britain welcomed Israel’s plan to get some humanitarian aid into Gaza from Egypt.
“I’m so sorry to be here in such terrible circumstances. In the last two weeks, this country has gone through what no country, no people should have to endure, least of all, Israel,” which he said has experienced “violence and terrorism every day of its existence.
“I want to share the deep condolences of the British people and stress that we absolutely support Israel’s right to defend itself in line with the international law, to go after Hamas, to take back hostages… and to strengthen your security for the long term,” Sunak was heard saying to Netanyahu in a video published by BBC News.
“I know that you are taking every precaution to avoid harming civilians in direct contrast to the terrorists of Hamas, to put civilians in homes away.
“I also want to thank you for the support your government has given to the families of British nationals caught up in this horror, including your efforts to secure the release of the hostages that were released.
“I know that we will continue to cooperate, particularly with regard to the British nationals that were involved.
“Can I also say that we have seen the scenes over the past days that have shocked all of us, particularly the hospital. We mourn the loss of every innocent life – civilians of every faith, every nationality who have been killed,” the British Prime Minister added.
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