Israeli airstrike damages Catholic church in Gaza

Strike on the Catholic church of the Holy Family in Gaza. Photo: ACN UK

On December 11, 2023, an Israeli airstrike damaged the only Catholic church in Gaza, according to the website of the papal foundation of the Roman Catholic Church. Shrapnel strikes damaged the roof, solar panels, and water tanks.

On December 12, an unexploded missile was found near the Holy Family Church. The clergy view this as a miracle, claiming that in case of detonation, there would have been a huge number of casualties. The community is left without fuel, water, and electricity.

The resource also reports that since the beginning of the war in October, 22 Christians have already died, including 17 from a strike near the Orthodox church of St. Porphyrius.

A brief ceasefire allowed Christians taking refuge in the Catholic church to come out and check the condition of their homes. Many found ruins in their place.

"I waited until the shelling subsided a bit and went to check our house, where several other Christian families lived, only to find out that the entire residential building had been completely demolished, and nothing remained of it," says one Christian. "Everything we had, including all my childhood memories, became history."

"The next day, I removed the key from the keychain because I no longer need it; I no longer have a home," she added.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Israel was bombing Gaza using the "Gospel" AI system.

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