The Patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem and Palestinian health officials have reported that an Israeli airstrike hit the Church of Saint Porphyrius in the Gaza Strip, which housed hundreds of Palestinian refugees.
The media office of the Hamas-run government in Gaza stated that 18 Palestinian Christians have died as a result, while the church has not provided the final casualty count.
The Israeli military acknowledged that a part of the church suffered damage due to a strike on an armed faction’s command center and said they are reviewing the incident.
Palestinian officials stated that at least 500 Muslims and Christians had sought refuge inside the church from Israeli bombardment.
The Patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem released a statement strongly condemning the Israeli airstrike on one of its church buildings in Gaza, according to Reuters.
Video footage from the church compound showed an injured child being pulled from beneath the rubble in the evening.
A civil defense worker mentioned that two individuals on upper floors had managed to survive, but those on the lower levels were either killed or remained trapped under debris.
Nearly 1,000 Christians, mostly belonging to the Greek Orthodox community, reside among the 2.4 million inhabitants of the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military stated that its aircraft had targeted a nearby command-and-control center used for launching attacks on Israel, adding, “A wall of the church in the area was damaged as a result of the IDF strike. We are aware of reports of casualties. The incident is under review.”
Meanwhile, Israel continued its airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
Multiple locations in the Gaza Strip witnessed heavy Israeli bombardment today, resulting in casualties, injuries, and infrastructure damage.
The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 4,137 since the start of the conflict on October 7, with an additional 13,162 wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Israel has been targeting the densely populated Gaza Strip, leveling buildings and destroying infrastructure since Hamas launched a surprise attack on it on October 7.
