Two Christian women sniped by IOF in Gaza church premises

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
17 Dec 2023 05:02
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The Israeli occupation forces kill two Christian women inside the Holy Family Parish in Gaza and injures a number of others.

An image showing the two Christian Palestinians that were martyred by IOF fire earlier today at the Holy Family Parish in the Gaza Strip, Naheda Anton and her daughter Samar Anton. (Social media)

Ahead of Christmas, the Israeli occupation continues its genocidal attack against the Gaza Strip striking civilians indiscriminately, and ethnically cleansing the Gaza Strip ignoring international pressure and Geneva protocols.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Communication Office announced the murdering of two Palestinian Christian women by an Israeli Occupation Forces sniper, who shot the women "in cold blood" inside the premise of the Holy Family Parish, in Gaza, "where there are no belligerents".

In an official statement, the communication office announced that "a sniper of the IDF murdered two Christian women inside the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, where the majority of Christian families has taken refuge since the start of the war."

صورة #الشهيدة المرحومة ناهدة خليل بولس أنطون "أم عماد"، وابنتها المرحومة سمر كمال أنطون، اللتين استشهدتا على يدي قناص من جيش الاحتلال الاسرائيلي في محيط #كنيسة العائلة المقدسة للاتين في غزة. pic.twitter.com/zxxVs5JhRL
— الأب رفعــت بدر Fr Rifat Bader (@BaderRifat) December 16, 2023

The two women were identified as Nahida Anton and her daughter, Samar Anton. They were shot as they "walked to the Sistser's Convent," read the statement explaining that "One was killed as she tried to carry the other to safety."

It was also noted that "Seven more people were shot and wounded as they tried to protect others inside the church compound."

The refugees were shot with "No warning", "no notification", and "in cold blood".

This happened after a "rocket fired from an IDF tank targeted the Convent of the Sisters of Mother Theresa (Missionaries of Charity)," according to the statement.

The bombardment destroyed "The building's generator (the only source of electricity) and the fuel resources," and another two more rockets targeting the same location rendered the Convent "uninhabitable".

pic.twitter.com/BaKFW1y20A
— Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem (@LPJerusalem) December 16, 2023

This left 54 disabled people, who were previously housed in the Convent displaced and without access to their basic needs - such as respirators required for their survival, added the statement.

It was also highlighted that "solar panels and water tanks, which are indispensable for the survival of the community, were destroyed," making the living circumstances for those who sought refuge in this place of worship significantly more difficult, as has become the situation across all of Gaza.

In turn, father Munther Isaac of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Beit Lahm who had noted earlier this month, referring to the US, that "They celebrate Christmas in their land, and wage war in our land" called the war on the Gaza Strip a genocide and urged it be brought to an end.

Two women shot dead in the Catholic church in Gaza. More injured... Tragic news from Gaza. Lord have mercy. Stop this genocide!!
— Munther Isaac منذر اسحق (@MuntherIsaac) December 16, 2023

Isaac recently made headlines after this year's Christmas manger depicted baby Jesus in the middle of the rubble wearing the kuffiyeh and when asked "If Jesus were born today, he would be born in Gaza under the rubble."

I was asked today by a journalist if we received a response from the white house to the letter we sent from the churches in Bethlehem asking for a ceasefire. I answered that the response was the veto vote in the UN. They celebrate Christmas in their land, and wage war in our land
— Munther Isaac منذر اسحق (@MuntherIsaac) December 10, 2023

It is worth noting that in Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Convention, article 53, it is prohibited to:

to commit any acts of hostility directed against the historic monuments, works of art, or places of worship that constitute the cultural or spiritual heritage of peoples;
to use such objects in support of the military effort;
to make such objects the object of reprisals.

So far "Israel" has committed multiple war crimes and massacres which have accumulated to genocide. The Israeli plan to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip of Palestinians remains ongoing, however, the Resistance remains steadfast despite the great tragedies and forces the IOF to withdraw from multiple locations.

'So much suffering in Gaza' says Pope Francis, urges ceasefire

"There is so much suffering in Gaza," and "it pains us that the truce has been broken," said Pope Francis, early in December, while making comments from his private residence that were later broadcast on giant screens in Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City.

The pontiff explained that the end of the ceasefire meant "death, destruction, misery" across the besieged Palestinian territory that even lacked essential supplies.

"I hope that all those involved may reach a new ceasefire agreement as soon as possible and find solutions other than weapons, trying to take courageous paths to peace," reaffirmed the pontiff.

Moreover, the Pope stated, "Many hostages have been freed but so many others are still in Gaza."

However, the pontiff did not refer to the thousands of Palestinians, many of whom are women and children, who, according to freed Palestinian prisoners, face inhumane and difficult circumstances as they are tortured and stripped of their most basic rights and are left in Israeli occupation prisons to their fate

This comes in contrast to the Israeli captives that were released by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza who were seen to be healthy, smiling, and waving goodbye to the Resistance personnel.