Pope blasts Israel for killing civilians at Gaza church
Pope Francis has condemned Israel for using "terrorism" tactics during its aggression on the besieged Gaza Strip.
The pontiff deplored the recent murdering by the Israeli military of two Christian women who had taken refuge in a church complex at his weekly address at St. Peter's Square on Sunday.
“I continue to receive very grave and painful news from Gaza,” said the Pope.
“Unarmed civilians are the objects of bombings and shootings. And this happened even inside the Holy Family parish complex, where there are no terrorists, but families, children, people who are sick or disabled and nuns,” he said.
"Some would say 'It is war. It is terrorism.' Yes, it is war. It is terrorism," he said.
Francis referred to a statement about an incident on Saturday by the Latin Patriarchate of al-Quds, the Catholic authority in the holy city.
The Patriarchate said an Israeli military sniper assassinated the two women, whom the pope named Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar, as they walked to a convent of nuns in the compound of the Holy Family Parish.
Seven other people were shot and wounded as they tried to protect others.
The Patriarchate's statement also said that a convent of nuns of the order founded by Mother Teresa was damaged by Israeli tank fire.
In October, the Pope called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to allow the delivery of essentials to the besieged Gaza Strip, which has been under heavy Israeli bombardment.
The Pope back then strongly urged "that children, the sick, the elderly, women and all civilians should not fall victim to the conflict".
Israel has launched new airstrikes on the Gaza Strip with the genocidal war in its 72nd day.
At least two dozen Palestinians were massacred after Israeli warplanes bombed a residential building in Jabaliya Balad in the northern Gaza Strip. The attack left 100 others injured.
A dozen others were also assassinated in Israeli strikes on the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
ME
