By Blessing Nweke
An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sniper shot and killed two women inside the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, as reported by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, overseeing Catholic Churches in the region.
The majority of Christian families sought refuge within the parish since the onset of the war, turning it into a haven amid escalating violence, according to the patriarchate’s statement.
The victims, identified as a mother and daughter, were walking to the Sister’s Convent when the sniper attack occurred. Shockingly, one was killed while attempting to carry the other to safety. Seven others sustained injuries in the unprovoked attack.
The statement emphasized the absence of any warning or notification, condemning the killings as “cold-blooded” within the premises of the parish, devoid of any combatants.
Further distressing details emerged, revealing that IDF tanks targeted the Convent of the Sisters of Mother Theresa, which houses 54 disabled individuals. The assault resulted in the destruction of the convent’s generator—the sole source of electricity—along with fuel resources, solar panels, and water tanks.
The patriarchate painted a grim picture, stating that the IDF’s rockets rendered the convent “uninhabitable.”
Adding to the growing international concern, UK lawmaker Layla Moran revealed the harrowing conditions faced by her family sheltering in the church. Moran highlighted the desperation and fear among her family members, with one reported death and deteriorating conditions.
Earlier, on November 15, Moran addressed the UK House of Commons, providing distressing accounts from her family. She disclosed the halt of electricity generators at the church and disturbing reports of white phosphorus usage and gunfire within their compound.
Tragically, the violence extended beyond combatants, claiming innocent lives, as witnessed in the untimely death of a family member. Moran further detailed the dire situation, revealing the shooting of the bin collector and janitor, their lifeless bodies left uncollected outside the compound.
As international scrutiny intensifies, calls for a thorough investigation into the incident and broader actions in the region amplify, shedding light on the urgent need for diplomatic solutions to halt the escalating crisis.