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Coordinates: 31°31′26.7″N 34°27′7.18″E / 31.524083°N 34.4519944°E / 31.524083; 34.4519944
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{{Infobox civilian attack
{{Infobox civilian attack
| title = Killing of Nahida and Samar Anton
| title = Killing of Nahida and Samar Anton
| location = [[Gaza City]], [[Gaza Strip]]
| location = [[Gaza City]], [[Gaza Strip]]
| date = {{start date|2023|12|16|df=y}}
| date = {{start date|2023|12|16|df=y}}
| partof = the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war]]
| partof = the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war]]
| image = Holy Family Church in Gaza.jpg
| image = Holy Family Church in Gaza.jpg
| caption = Holy Family Church, Gaza
| caption = Holy Family Church, Gaza
| map = {{location map|Israel
| map = {{location map|Israel
| lat_deg = 31.50
| lat_deg = 31.50
| lon_deg = 34.47}}
| lon_deg = 34.47
}}
| map_size =
| map_size =
| map_alt =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = The attack site
| map_caption = The attack site
| native_name =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| native_name_lang =
| coordinates = {{coord|31|31|26.7|N|34|27|7.18|E|dim:IL-JM_type:event|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|31|31|26.7|N|34|27|7.18|E|dim:IL-JM_type:event|display=inline,title}}
| time =
| time =
| timezone =
| timezone =
| target =
| target =
| type =
| type =
| weapons =
| weapons =
| fatalities = 2
| fatalities = 2
| injuries = 7
| injuries = 7
| perpetrator =
| perpetrator =
| assailants =
| assailants =
| motive =
| motive =
| notes =
| notes =
}}
}}


On 16 December 2023, two [[Palestinian Christians]], Nahida Anton and her daughter Samar Anton, were shot and killed while they were walking inside the grounds of the [[Holy Family Church, Gaza|Holy Family Church]] to go to the bathroom during the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war]]. {{sfn|Vatican News|2023}}{{sfn|Palestine Chronicle|2023}} The [[Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem]] said that the shots were fired by an Israeli sniper.{{sfn|Chen|2023}} The [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] has repeatedly denied this.{{sfn|ToL|2023}}
On 16 December 2023, two [[Palestinian Christians]], '''Nahida Anton''' and her daughter '''Samar Anton''', were shot and killed while they were walking inside the grounds of the [[Holy Family Church, Gaza|Holy Family Church]] to go to the bathroom during the [[2023 Israel–Hamas war]].{{sfn|Vatican News|2023}}{{sfn|Palestine Chronicle|2023}} The [[Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem]] said that the shots were fired by an Israeli sniper.{{sfn|Chen|El Damanhoury|Karadsheh|Ehlinger|2023}} The [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] has repeatedly denied this.{{sfn|''Times of Israel'' 21 Dec|2023}}


== Background ==
== Background ==
At the outbreak of war, the Christian community in Gaza numbered 1017 members, of which 135 were Catholic.{{sfn|Romanelli|2023}} Relations with the wider Muslim population were peaceful, with outreach programmes catering to the poor and elderly, and thousands of Muslim children studied in Christian schools.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} During the hostilities, the Holy Family Church in [[Rimal]] became a refuge for over 300 displaced, mnostly Christian,{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} individuals, and by the time of the killings, was sheltering 648 Gazans.{{sfn|Banco|2023}} The church was well prepared to offer these services because experience of many prior conflicts had led it to stockpile supplies for such emergencies. These had been replenished during the [[2023 Israel–Hamas ceasefire|November ceasefire]], though by December the community was on short rations.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}
At the outbreak of war, the Christian community in Gaza numbered 1017 members, of which 135 were Catholic.{{sfn|Romanelli|2023}} Relations with the wider Muslim population were peaceful, with outreach programmes catering to the poor and elderly, and thousands of Muslim children studied in Christian schools.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} During the hostilities, the Holy Family Church in [[Rimal]] became a refuge for over 300 displaced, mnostly Christian,{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} individuals, and by the time of the killings, was sheltering 648 Gazans.{{sfn|Banco|2023}} The church was well prepared to offer these services because experience of many prior conflicts had led it to stockpile supplies for such emergencies. These had been replenished during the [[2023 Israel–Hamas ceasefire|November ceasefire]], though by December the community was on short rations.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}


After an Intense exchange of emails through 14 to the 26 October between the [[Catholic Relief Services]] and [[Congressional staff|U.S. Senate staffers]], the latter had informed Israeli military liaisons that the church was sheltering civilians, providing them with the exact coordinates of 4 buildings.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}{{sfn|Banco|2023}} The IDF responded that it could not guarantee the safety of any civilians inside, urging that the community be evacuated, something that was not feasible given the many disabled and elderly in their care.{{sfn|Banco|2023}} In one email, one of the four buildings, the Handicap Children’s House, was identified as being a mosque by the Israeli authorities.{{sfn|banco|2023}}
After an intense exchange of emails through 14 to the 26 October between the [[Catholic Relief Services]] and [[Congressional staff|U.S. Senate staffers]], the latter had informed Israeli military liaisons that the church was sheltering civilians, providing them with the exact coordinates of 4 buildings.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}{{sfn|Banco|2023}} The IDF responded that it could not guarantee the safety of any civilians inside, urging that the community be evacuated, something that was not feasible given the many disabled and elderly in their care.{{sfn|Banco|2023}} In one email, one of the four buildings, the Handicap Children's House, was identified as being a mosque by the Israeli authorities.{{sfn|Banco|2023}}


IDF bombings had leveled most of the buildings in the victinity of the church. On 15 November the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] [[Layla Moran]] stated in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] that members of her Palestinian family, including a grandmother, a cousin, his wife and their 11-year-old twins, {{sfn|Trew|2023}} were sheltered in the Church: according to their accounts, the compound was being hit by gunfire and [[White phosphorus munition|white phosphorus]],{{efn|Layla Moran stated to [[The Independent]]:“I have been told white phosphorus was thrown into the compound, that the bin collector was shot dead as he tried to come into the compound, and that a janitor trying to fix a carpet was also shot.” Bel Trew adds that 'White phosphorus is an incendiary, used to create light and smokescreens during combat. Using it isn’t illegal but deploying it deliberately against civilians or in a civilian setting violates the rules of war. Israel says it complies with international law over its use.'{{sfn|Trew|2023}}}} one family member had died, a bin collector and janitor had been killed outside, and could not be buried. {{sfn|Chen|2023}} The church's generators had been destroyed due to the bombs, along with their solar panels, water tanks and fuel resources. {{sfn|Trew|2023}} Israeli tanks were stationed nearby, while IDF snipers had taken up positions in the apartment blocks that overlooked the compound, making movement between buildings in the limestone complex very dangerous.{{sfn|Trew|2023}} Moran later added that anyone approaching the church was shot on sight. {{sfn|Trew|2023}} By mid December, an estimated 19,453 Gazans had been killed by Israeli fire.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}}
IDF bombings had leveled most of the buildings in the victinity of the church. On 15 November the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] MP [[Layla Moran]] stated in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] that members of her Palestinian family, including a grandmother, a cousin, his wife and their 11-year-old twins,{{sfn|Trew|2023}} were sheltered in the Church: according to their accounts, the compound was being hit by gunfire and [[White phosphorus munition|white phosphorus]],{{efn|Layla Moran stated to [[The Independent]]:"I have been told white phosphorus was thrown into the compound, that the bin collector was shot dead as he tried to come into the compound, and that a janitor trying to fix a carpet was also shot." Bel Trew adds that "White phosphorus is an incendiary, used to create light and smokescreens during combat. Using it isn't illegal but deploying it deliberately against civilians or in a civilian setting violates the rules of war. Israel says it complies with international law over its use." {{harv|Trew|2023}}}} one family member had died, a bin collector and janitor had been killed outside, and could not be buried.{{sfn|Chen|El Damanhoury|Karadsheh|Ehlinger|2023}} The church's generators had been destroyed due to the bombs, along with their solar panels, water tanks and fuel resources.{{sfn|Trew|2023}} Israeli tanks were stationed nearby, while IDF snipers had taken up positions in the apartment blocks that overlooked the compound, making movement between buildings in the limestone complex very dangerous.{{sfn|Trew|2023}} Moran later added that anyone approaching the church was shot on sight.{{sfn|Trew|2023}} By mid December, an estimated 19,453 Gazans had been killed by Israeli fire.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}}


== Deaths ==
== Deaths ==
Nahida Khalil Anton was the mother of the largest Catholic family in the Gaza Strip, with 7 children and more than 20 grandchildren. Her daughter Samar worked as a cook for the the physically and mentally{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} disabled children being cared for by the [[Mother Teresa|Teresan]] nuns of the [[Missionaries of Charity]]. {{sfn|Romanelli|2023}} Nahida originally hailed from a [[1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight|Palestinian refugee]] family and was born in [[Dbayeh]], in 1953{{sfn|Ferretti|2024}}, Lebanon where a sector of the camp cares for Palestinian and Syrian Christian refugees. Her family was forced to flee to [[Yemen]] in the wake of the [[1982 Lebanon War|Israeli invasion of Lebanon]] in 1982. She eventually managed to make her way back to the Gaza Strip, where she dedicated herself to voluntary work for the local Catholic community.{{sfn|Pupella|2024}} Her daughter Samar was 49.{{sfn|Trew|2023}}
'''Nahida Khalil Anton''' was the mother of the largest Catholic family in the Gaza Strip, with 7 children and more than 20 grandchildren. Her daughter Samar worked as a cook for the physically and mentally{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} disabled children being cared for by the [[Mother Teresa|Teresan]] nuns of the [[Missionaries of Charity]].{{sfn|Romanelli|2023}} Nahida originally hailed from a [[1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight|Palestinian refugee]] family and was born in [[Dbayeh]], in 1953,{{sfn|Ferretti|2024}} Lebanon where a sector of the camp cares for Palestinian and Syrian Christian refugees. Her family was forced to flee to [[Yemen]] in the wake of the [[1982 Lebanon War|Israeli invasion of Lebanon]] in 1982. She eventually managed to make her way back to the Gaza Strip, where she dedicated herself to voluntary work for the local Catholic community.{{sfn|Pupella|2024}} Her daughter Samar was 49.{{sfn|Trew|2023}}


On the morning of the 16 December, according to The [[Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem]], an Israeli tank targeted and struck the Missionaries of Charity convent, which housed 54 disabled people. The [[Shell (projectile)|shelling]] caused a large explosion, destroying the church's electricity generator and reserves of fuel. A follow-up barrage of two shells rendered the hospice unihabitable, forcing the residents to be displaced and depriving several of the [[Ventilator| respiratory ventilators]] their condition required.{{sfn|LPJ|2023}}{{sfn|Chen|2023}} Father Youssef, a Gazan priest, endeavoured, with a defective cell-phone contact, to get the Patriarchate to convey to the IDF that their area was a designated [[Safe space|safe zone]].{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} The IDF reported that an exchange between it and the Holy Parish authorities at that point, the latter stated that they had not suffered casualties.{{sfn|Chen|2023}}
On the morning of 16 December, according to The [[Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem]], an Israeli tank targeted and struck the Missionaries of Charity convent, which housed 54 disabled people. The [[Shell (projectile)|shelling]] caused a large explosion, destroying the church's electricity generator and reserves of fuel. A follow-up barrage of two shells rendered the hospice unihabitable, forcing the residents to be displaced and depriving several of the [[Ventilator|respiratory ventilators]] their condition required.{{sfn|LPJ|2023}}{{sfn|Chen|El Damanhoury|Karadsheh|Ehlinger|2023}} Father Youssef, a Gazan priest, endeavoured, with a defective cell-phone contact, to get the Patriarchate to convey to the IDF that their area was a designated [[Safe space|safe zone]].{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} The IDF reported that an exchange between it and the Holy Parish authorities at that point, the latter stated that they had not suffered casualties.{{sfn|Chen|El Damanhoury|Karadsheh|Ehlinger|2023}}


Around noon, Edward Anton, Samar's brother who worked with [[Médecins Sans Frontières|Doctors Without Borders]], thought he had observed the Israeli military outside the church and shouted warnings to those sheltering in the building to stay inside.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} According to his account his mother had been shot while crossing the courtyard over to a bathroom and had no heard his warnings.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} Nahida was shot three times,{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} once in the stomach. When Samar rushed out{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} and attempted to succour her fallen mother and drag her to safety, she in turn was shot in the head, under the ear.{{sfn|Trew|2023}}{{sfn|Miele|2023}}{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} The killings were observed directly by one of the resident nuns, Sister Nabila Saleh.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} Over roughly the next ten minutes,{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} a further seven people were shot and wounded, among them Edward Anton, who was shot in the leg {{sfn|Robbins|2024}} and other family relatives- Dr.Elias, a surgeon, and a 16 year old cousin who attempted to help the downed couple.{{sfn|Trew|2023}}{{efn|'(Edward Anton's) father, his wife, and three nephews, aged twenty-four, sixteen, and fifteen, had all been injured, along with two others.'. Two were the children of Issa Antoun.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}}}} or while trying to protect others inside the church compound. According to the Patriarchate, 'No warning was given, no notification was provided. They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the Parish, where there are no belligerents.”{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}}{{sfn|King|2023}} Both [[Hamas]] and the Patriarchate stated that an Israeli sniper had been responsible for killing the two women.{{sfn|Da Silva|2023}} Later Israeli bulddozers piled up wrecked cars from the street to shut the church door.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}}
Around noon, Edward Anton, Samar's brother who worked with [[Médecins Sans Frontières|Doctors Without Borders]], thought he had observed the Israeli military outside the church and shouted warnings to those sheltering in the building to stay inside.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} According to his account his mother had been shot while crossing the courtyard over to a bathroom and had no heard his warnings.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} Nahida was shot three times,{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} once in the stomach. When Samar rushed out{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} and attempted to succour her fallen mother and drag her to safety, she in turn was shot in the head, under the ear.{{sfn|Trew|2023}}{{sfn|Miele|2023}}{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} The killings were observed directly by one of the resident nuns, Sister Nabila Saleh.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} Over roughly the next ten minutes,{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} a further seven people were shot and wounded, among them Edward Anton, who was shot in the leg{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} and other family relatives – Dr.Elias, a surgeon, and a 16-year-old cousin who attempted to help the downed couple.{{sfn|Trew|2023}}{{efn|"(Edward Anton's) father, his wife, and three nephews, aged twenty-four, sixteen, and fifteen, had all been injured, along with two others." Two were the children of Issa Antoun ({{harvnb|Robbins|2024}}; {{harvnb|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}}).}} or while trying to protect others inside the church compound. According to the Patriarchate, "No warning was given, no notification was provided. They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the Parish, where there are no belligerents."{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}}{{sfn|King|2023}} Both [[Hamas]] and the Patriarchate stated that an Israeli sniper had been responsible for killing the two women.{{sfn|Da Silva|2023}} Later Israeli bulddozers piled up wrecked cars from the street to shut the church door.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}}


The sister of one of the civilians in the compound told the [[BBC]] that those in the church were scared to leave for fear of being shot at, adding that "they believed the Israelis were shooting anything that moves".{{sfn|Snow|2023}} Further fatalities occurred when the Israeli troops prevented medical aid from reaching the wounded.{{sfn|Analyst|Sayegh|2023}} The wounded had to wait until Christmas eve to be evacuated to the Anglican [[Al-Ahli Arab Hospital]] - which had already suffered severe damage [[Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion|frtom an explosion on 17 October]] {{sfn|Robbins|2024}}- where the required surgeries were not possible since many of the personel had been detained during an Israeli raid on Al-Ahli on 19 December, leaving the hospital understaffed.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}
The sister of one of the civilians in the compound told the [[BBC]] that those in the church were scared to leave for fear of being shot at, adding that "they believed the Israelis were shooting anything that moves".{{sfn|Snow|2023}} Further fatalities occurred when the Israeli troops prevented medical aid from reaching the wounded.{{sfn|Sayegh|2023}} The wounded had to wait until Christmas eve to be evacuated to the Anglican [[Al-Ahli Arab Hospital]] – which had already suffered severe damage [[Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion|frtom an explosion on 17 October]]{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}- where the required surgeries were not possible since many of the personel had been detained during an Israeli raid on Al-Ahli on 19 December, leaving the hospital understaffed.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}


== Investigation ==
== Investigation ==
Initially, the IDF stated that the incidents occurred during a blitz programmed to look for armaments in the area. {{sfn|Miele|2023}}Following an internal investigation, the IDF said that Hamas had fired an [[Rocket-propelled grenade|RPG]] from the vicinity of the church, and that IDF soldiers had fired back and hit Hamas spotters,{{sfn|ToL|2023}} while Catholic Church officials maintained there were no Palestinian belligerents in the area.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|2023}} In January the IDF backtracked on its original conclusions, and that it would undertake a further examination of the incident.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}
Initially, the IDF stated that the incidents occurred during a blitz programmed to look for armaments in the area.{{sfn|Miele|2023}} Following an internal investigation, the IDF said that Hamas had fired an [[Rocket-propelled grenade|RPG]] from the vicinity of the church, and that IDF soldiers had fired back and hit Hamas spotters,{{sfn|''Times of Israel'' 21 Dec|2023}} while Catholic Church officials maintained there were no Palestinian belligerents in the area.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} In January the IDF backtracked on its original conclusions, and that it would undertake a further examination of the incident.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}}


== Reactions ==
== Reactions ==
The [[Church of Saint Porphyrius airstrike|bombing of Saint Porphyrius Church]] on 19 October, which killed 18 civilians and wounded 20,{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} the killing of the church organist Elham Farah in the street on 17 November 2023, together with the killing of Nahida and Samar by an Israeli sniper, the destruction of the Holy Rosary School by IDF soldiers and the serious damage caused to the house of the Missionaries of Charity, all contributed to aggravating the already strained [[Holy See–Israel relations|relations between the Vatican and Israel]]. [[Pope Francis]] himself maintained a near daily telephone contact with the Catholic parish in Gaza.{{sfn|Sale|Neuhaus|2024|p=?}} According to the [[Washington Post]], In late October, Pope Francis had telephoned the Israeli President [[Isaac Herzog]] in which he affirmed his view that fighting terrorism with terrorism was forbidden.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} condemned the attack and said: “Some would say ‘It is war. It is terrorism.’ Yes, it is war. It is terrorism". {{sfn|McDougall|2023}}{{sfn|McCordick|2023}} This was the second time that the Pope had used the word “terrorism” while speaking of events in Gaza, {{sfn|McDougall|2023}}{{sfn|McCordick|2023}} and angered some Israelis.{{|sfn|Robbins|2024}} The [[Archbishop of Westminster]], [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] [[Vincent Nichols]], the most senior Catholic figure in the United Kingdom, said: "They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the Parish, where there are no belligerents."{{sfn|Birrell|2023}}{{sfn|Sherwood|2023}}
The [[Church of Saint Porphyrius airstrike|bombing of Saint Porphyrius Church]] on 19 October, which killed 18 civilians and wounded 20,{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} the killing of the church organist Elham Farah in the street on 17 November 2023, together with the killing of Nahida and Samar by an Israeli sniper, the destruction of the Holy Rosary School by IDF soldiers and the serious damage caused to the house of the Missionaries of Charity, all contributed to aggravating the already strained [[Holy See–Israel relations|relations between the Vatican and Israel]]. [[Pope Francis]] himself maintained a near daily telephone contact with the Catholic parish in Gaza.{{sfn|Sale|Neuhaus|2024|p=?}} According to the [[Washington Post]], In late October, Pope Francis had telephoned the Israeli President [[Isaac Herzog]] in which he affirmed his view that fighting terrorism with terrorism was forbidden.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} He condemned the attack and said: "Some would say 'It is war. It is terrorism.' Yes, it is war. It is terrorism".{{sfn|McDougall|2023}}{{sfn|McCordick|2023}} This was the second time that the Pope had used the word "terrorism" while speaking of events in Gaza,{{sfn|McDougall|2023}}{{sfn|McCordick|2023}} and angered some Israelis.{{sfn|Robbins|2024}} The [[Archbishop of Westminster]], [[Cardinal (Catholic Church)|Cardinal]] [[Vincent Nichols]], the most senior Catholic figure in the United Kingdom, said: "They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the Parish, where there are no belligerents."{{sfn|Birrell|2023}}{{sfn|Sherwood|2023}}


When the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the killing of the two women on 16 December, the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican lashed back accusing the patriarchate of engaging in [[blood libel]].{{sfn|Sale|Neuhaus|2024|p=?}} [[Mitri Raheb]], a Palestinian Lutheran pastor in [[Bethlehem]], told reporters that the deaths were heartbreaking and that it made people angry, referencing other attacks by the IDF on Gaza's church's such as the Church of Saint Porphyrius attack which damaged Gaza's oldest Greek Orthodox church and killed at least 18 people.{{sfn|Da Silva|2023}}
When the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the killing of the two women on 16 December, the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican lashed back accusing the patriarchate of engaging in [[blood libel]].{{sfn|Sale|Neuhaus|2024|p=?}} [[Mitri Raheb]], a Palestinian Lutheran pastor in [[Bethlehem]], told reporters that the deaths were heartbreaking and that it made people angry, referencing other attacks by the IDF on Gaza's church's such as the Church of Saint Porphyrius attack which damaged Gaza's oldest Greek Orthodox church and killed at least 18 people.{{sfn|Da Silva|2023}}


The [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli military]] said it had not targeted the church and that church representatives had not mentioned an attack or civilian deaths when they spoke to the IDF on the morning of 16 December.{{sfn|ToL2|2013}} [[Tal Heinrich]], a spokeswoman from Prime Minister [[Binjamin Netanyahu]] denied that there had been any fighting the the area of the church.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem [[Fleur Hassan-Nahoum]], speaking on [[LBC]], was asked about reports of snipers outside the church, and she responded by falsely claiming there are no churches in Gaza and that Christians had been driven out by Hamas.{{sfn|Roya|2023}}{{sfn|Soteriou|2023}} [[Theodosios Hanna| Bishop Atallah Hanna]], the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of [[Sebastia]], publicly dismissed her assertions by noting that the presence of Gazan Christians had been attested for centuries.{{sfn|Roya|2023}} Hassan-Nahoum later backtracked and confessed she had seen no reports.{{sfn|MEM|2023}}
The [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli military]] said it had not targeted the church and that church representatives had not mentioned an attack or civilian deaths when they spoke to the IDF on the morning of 16 December.{{sfn|''Times of Israel'' 18 Dec|2023}} [[Tal Heinrich]], a spokeswoman from Prime Minister [[Binjamin Netanyahu]] denied that there had been any fighting the area of the church.{{sfn|Berger|Bellware|Masih|2023}} Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem [[Fleur Hassan-Nahoum]], speaking on [[LBC]], was asked about reports of snipers outside the church, and she responded by falsely claiming there are no churches in Gaza and that Christians had been driven out by Hamas.{{sfn|Roya|2023}}{{sfn|Soteriou|2023}} [[Theodosios Hanna|Bishop Atallah Hanna]], the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of [[Sebastia]], publicly dismissed her assertions by noting that the presence of Gazan Christians had been attested for centuries.{{sfn|Roya|2023}} Hassan-Nahoum later backtracked and confessed she had seen no reports.{{sfn|MEM|2023}}


Italian Foreign Minister [[Antonio Tajani]] condemned the killings, saying: "An (Israeli) sniper shot two women inside a church. This has nothing to do with the fight against Hamas because the terrorists are certainly not hiding in Christian churches." {{sfn|Reuters|2023}} British member of Parliament, [[Layla Moran]] who has family members sheltering in the churches grounds spoke out about the attack and deaths on social media stating her family members were "beyond desperate and terrified."{{sfn|Da Silva|2023}}
Italian Foreign Minister [[Antonio Tajani]] condemned the killings, saying: "An (Israeli) sniper shot two women inside a church. This has nothing to do with the fight against Hamas because the terrorists are certainly not hiding in Christian churches."{{sfn|Reuters|2023}} British member of Parliament, [[Layla Moran]] who has family members sheltering in the churches grounds spoke out about the attack and deaths on social media stating her family members were "beyond desperate and terrified."{{sfn|Da Silva|2023}}


==See also==
==See also==
*[[Palestinian Christians]]
* [[Palestinian Christians]]
*[[Manuel Musallam]]
* [[Manuel Musallam]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 76: Line 77:
==Sources==
==Sources==
{{refbegin|30em}}
{{refbegin|30em}}
*{{Cite news| title = Congressional staff tried to protect Gazan churches by sending locations to Israel
*{{cite web |title=Dying, injured Palestinians besieged in Gaza church by Israeli soldiers
| last = Banco | first = Erin
| last1 =Analyst
| magazine = [[Politico|POLITICO]]
| last2=Sayegh| first2 =Khalil
| website=[[Al Jazeera]]
| publisher = [[Politico]]
| url = https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/21/congress-gazan-churches-location-israel-00132915
| date =23 December 2023
| date = 21 December 2023 | access-date = 21 October 2024
| url=https://aje.io/cvvtyk?update=2572547
}}
}}
*{{Cite web |title=Congressional staff tried to protect Gazan churches by sending locations to Israel
*{{Cite news| title = IDF kills two women taking shelter at Gaza church, Catholic authorities say
| last=Banco | first=Erin
| last1 = Berger | first1 = Miriam
| last2 = Bellware | first2 = Kim
| publisher =[[Politico]]
| date= 21 December 2023
| last3 = Masih | first3 = Niha
| newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]
| url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/12/21/congress-gazan-churches-location-israel-00132915
| url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/16/women-killed-at-holy-family-parish-gaza-israel
| access-date=October 21, 2024
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231217012816/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/16/women-killed-at-holy-family-parish-gaza-israel/
}}
| date = 16 December 2023 | access-date = 18 December 2023 | archive-date = 17 December 2023
*{{Cite news |title=IDF kills two women taking shelter at Gaza church, Catholic authorities say
| last1=Berger | first1=Miriam
| last2=Bellware | first2=Kim
| last3 =Masih | first3 =Niha
| newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]
| date=16 December 2023 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/16/women-killed-at-holy-family-parish-gaza-israel
| access-date=2023-12-18
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231217012816/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/16/women-killed-at-holy-family-parish-gaza-israel/
| archive-date=2023-12-17
}}
}}
*{{Cite web |title=Cardinal Vincent Nichols expresses horror at 'callous' killings in Gaza's Catholic Church compound
*{{Cite news| title = Cardinal Vincent Nichols expresses horror at 'callous' killings in Gaza's Catholic Church compound
| last=Birrell | first=Donna
| last = Birrell | first = Donna
| website=[[Premier Christian Radio]]
| publisher = [[Premier Christian Radio]]
| url = https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/cardinal-vincent-nichols-expresses-horror-at-callous-killings-in-gaza-s-catholic-church-compound
| date=17 December 2023
| date = 17 December 2023 | access-date = 18 December 2023
| url=https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/cardinal-vincent-nichols-expresses-horror-at-callous-killings-in-gaza-s-catholic-church-compound
}}
| access-date=2023-12-18
*{{Cite news| title = Pope speaks out after IDF sniper kills two women inside Gaza church, per Catholic authorities
| last1 = Chen | first1 = Heather
| last2 = El Damanhoury | first2 = Kareem
| last3 = Karadsheh | first3 = Jomana
| last4 = Ehlinger | first4 = Maija
| publisher = [[CNN]]
| url = https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/16/middleeast/idf-sniper-gaza-church-deaths-intl-hnk/index.html
| date = 17 December 2023 | access-date = 18 December 2023
}}
*{{Cite news| title = Fears mount for Gaza's tiny Christian community after mom and daughter shot dead
| last = Da Silva | first = Chantal
| publisher = [[NBC News]]
| url = https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/fears-mount-gazas-tiny-christian-community-mom-daughter-shot-dead-rcna130132
| date = 18 December 2023 | access-date = 19 December 2023
}}
*{{Cite news| title = Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem sparks outrage with false claim: 'No Christians in Gaza'
| newspaper = [[Roya News]]
| url = https://en.royanews.tv/news/47745
| date = 22 December 2023
| ref = {{harvid|Roya|2023}}
}}
}}
*{{Cite web | title=Fears mount for Gaza's tiny Christian community after mom and daughter shot dead
| last=Da Silva |first=Chantal
| website=[[NBC News]]
| date=18 December 2023
| url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/fears-mount-gazas-tiny-christian-community-mom-daughter-shot-dead-rcna130132
| access-date=2023-12-19
}}
*{{Cite news |title=Pope Sounds Off After Israeli Sniper Kills 2 at Catholic Church in Gaza
| last=McDougall | first=A. J.
| date=18 December 2023
| publisher=[[The Daily Beast]]
| url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/pope-francis-laments-israeli-snipers-killing-of-mother-and-daughter-in-gaza-church
| access-date=2023-12-18
}}</ref>}}
*{{Cite web |title=Pope speaks out after IDF sniper kills two women inside Gaza church, per Catholic authorities
| last1=Chen |first1=Heather
| last2=El Damanhoury |first2=Kareem
| last3=Karadsheh |first3=Jomana
| last4=Ehlinger |first4=Maija
| publisher=[[CNN]]
| date=17 December 2023
| url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/16/middleeast/idf-sniper-gaza-church-deaths-intl-hnk/index.html
| access-date=2023-12-18
| ref ={{harv|Chen|2023}}
}}
*{{Cite web| title = 50 pietre d'inciampo per vittime Palestinesi. Chi erano
*{{Cite web| title = 50 pietre d'inciampo per vittime Palestinesi. Chi erano
| trans-title = 50 stumbling blocks for Palestinian victims. Who were they?
| last = Ferretti | first =Alessandro
| last = Ferretti | first = Alessandro
| website = Osservatorio sulla Legalità e sui Diritti onlus
| website = Osservatorio sulla Legalità e sui Diritti onlus
| date= 27 January 2024
| lang = it
| url = http://www.osservatoriosullalegalita.org/24/acom/01/27ferrettigaza3.htm
| url = http://www.osservatoriosullalegalita.org/24/acom/01/27ferrettigaza3.htm
| date = 27 January 2024
}}
*{{Cite news| title = Gaza church killings at odds with war on Hamas, Italy tells Israel
| publisher = [[Reuters]]
| url = https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-church-killings-odds-with-war-hamas-italy-tells-israel-2023-12-18/
| date = 18 December 2023 | access-date = 5 May 2023
| ref = {{harvid|Reuters|2023}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title = IDF again denies killing mother and daughter at Gaza church, cites Hamas fire in area
| author = <!-- TOI staff and AFP -->
| agency = Agence France-Presse
| newspaper = [[The Times of Israel]]
| url = https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-again-denies-killing-mother-and-daughter-at-gaza-church-cites-hamas-fire-in-area/
| date = 21 December 2023
| ref = {{harvid|''Times of Israel'' 21 Dec|2023}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title = IDF refutes claim it targeted sole Catholic church in Gaza after 2 women said killed
| author = <!-- TOI staff and AFP -->
| agency = Agence France-Presse
| newspaper = [[The Times of Israel]]
| url = https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-refutes-claim-it-targeted-sole-catholic-church-in-gaza-after-2-women-said-killed/
| date = 18 December 2023 | access-date = 21 December 2023
| ref = {{harvid|''Times of Israel'' 18 Dec|2023}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title = Israeli Snipers Kill Mother, Daughter Sheltered in Holy Family Church
| newspaper = Palestine Chronicle
| url = https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israeli-snipers-kill-mother-daughter-sheltered-in-holy-family-church/
| date = 16 December 2023 | access-date = 16 December 2023
| ref = {{harvid|Palestine Chronicle|2023}}
}}
*{{cite web| title = Jerusalem Deputy Mayor says 'there are no churches in Gaza' when asked about Israel's targeting of a church
| publisher = [[Middle East Monitor]]
| url = https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231219-jerusalem-deputy-mayor-says-there-are-no-churches-in-gaza-when-asked-about-israels-targeting-of-a-church/
| date = 19 December 2023
| ref = {{harvid|MEM|2023}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title = In Bethlehem, the home of Jesus' birth, a season of grieving for Palestinian Christians
| last = King | first = Laura
| newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]]
| url = https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-12-19/scant-glad-tidings-this-christmas-for-palestinian-christians
| date = 19 December 2023 | access-date = 20 December 2023
}}
}}
*{{Cite news |title=In Bethlehem, the home of Jesus' birth, a season of grieving for Palestinian Christians
| last=King |first=Laura
| publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]]
| date=19 December 2023
| url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2023-12-19/scant-glad-tidings-this-christmas-for-palestinian-christians
| access-date=2023-12-20
}}
*{{Cite news| title = Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem 16 December 2023
*{{Cite news| title = Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem 16 December 2023
| publisher = [[Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem]]
| publisher = [[Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem]]
| url = https://www.lpj.org/en/gaza-16th-december-2023
| date = 16 December 2023
| date = 16 December 2023
| ref = {{harvid|LPJ|2023}}
| url =https://www.lpj.org/en/gaza-16th-december-2023
}}
| ref ={{harv|LPJ|2023}}
*{{Cite news| title = "It is Terrorism": Pope Francis Denounces Killing of Two Christian Women in Gaza
| last = McCordick | first = Jack
| magazine = [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]
| url = https://www.vanityfair.com/news/pope-francis-israel-gaza-deaths
| date = 17 December 2023 | access-date = 18 December 2023
}}
}}
*{{Cite web |title="It is Terrorism": Pope Francis Denounces Killing of Two Christian Women in Gaza
*{{Cite news| title = Pope Sounds Off After Israeli Sniper Kills 2 at Catholic Church in Gaza
| last=McCordick |first=Jack
| last = McDougall | first = A. J.
| publisher = [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]
| newspaper = [[The Daily Beast]]
| url = https://www.thedailybeast.com/pope-francis-laments-israeli-snipers-killing-of-mother-and-daughter-in-gaza-church
| date=17 December 2023
| date = 18 December 2023 | access-date = 18 December 2023
| url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/pope-francis-israel-gaza-deaths |access-date=2023-12-18
}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title = Israele attacca la parrocchia di Gaza City: uccise madre e figlia cristiane
*{{cite web|title=Jerusalem Deputy Mayor says 'there are no churches in Gaza' when asked about Israel's targeting of a church
| trans-title = Israel Attacks Gaza City Parish, Kills Christian Mother and Daughter
| publisher =[[Middle East Monitor]]
| last = Miele | first = Luca
| date=19 December 2023
| newspaper = [[Avvenire]]
| url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231219-jerusalem-deputy-mayor-says-there-are-no-churches-in-gaza-when-asked-about-israels-targeting-of-a-church/
| ref ={{harv|MEM|2023}}
| lang = it
| url = https://www.avvenire.it/mondo/pagine/chiesa-colpita-a-gaza
}}
*{{Cite news | title = Israele attacca la parrocchia di Gaza City: uccise madre e figlia cristiane
| last = Miele | first = Luca
| publisher = [[Avvenire]]
| date = 16 December 2023
| date = 16 December 2023
| url =https://www.avvenire.it/mondo/pagine/chiesa-colpita-a-gaza
}}
}}
*{{Cite web | title =Israeli Snipers Kill Mother, Daughter Sheltered in Holy Family Church
*{{Cite news| title = Mia zia e mia cugina uccise a Gaza. Non sapevano nulla di Hamas
| trans-title = My aunt and cousin were killed in Gaza. They knew nothing about Hamas
|website=Palestine Chronicle
| last = Pupella | first = Marina
| date=16 December 2023
| newspaper = [[Avvenire]]
| url=https://www.palestinechronicle.com/israeli-snipers-kill-mother-daughter-sheltered-in-holy-family-church/
| lang = it
| access-date=2023-12-16
| url = https://www.avvenire.it/mondo/pagine/reportage-dal-libano-mia-zia-e-mia-cugina-uccise-a
| ref ={{harv|Palestine Chronicle|2023}}
| date = 25 January 2024
}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title =«Mia zia e mia cugina uccise a Gaza. Non sapevano nulla di Hamas"
*{{Cite news| title = The Dilemma of Gaza’s Christians
| last =Pupella | first = Marina
| last = Robbins | first = Claire Porter
| publisher = [[Avvenire]]
| magazine = [[The New Yorker]]
| url = https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-dilemma-of-gazas-christians
| date =25 January 2024
| date = 24 January 2024 | access-date = 21 October 2024
| url =https://www.avvenire.it/mondo/pagine/reportage-dal-libano-mia-zia-e-mia-cugina-uccise-a
}}
}}
*{{Cite web |title=Gaza church killings at odds with war on Hamas, Italy tells Israel
*{{Cite news| title = Due donne molto amate
| last = Romanelli | first = Gabriel
| publisher = [[Reuters]]
| publisher = [[Osservatore Romano]]
| date =18 December 2023
| url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-church-killings-odds-with-war-hamas-italy-tells-israel-2023-12-18/
| url = https://www.osservatoreromano.va/it/news/2023-12/quo-289/due-donne-molto-amate.html
| date = 18 December 2023
| access-date=2023-05-05
}}
}}
* {{Cite news |title=The Dilemma of Gaza’s Christians
*{{Cite book| title = Israele e Palestina: Un Conflitto Senza Fine?
| trans-title = Israel and Palestine: A Conflict Without End?
| last=Robbins | first=Claire Porter
| last1 = Sale | first1 = Giovanni
| publisher=[[The New Yorker]]
| last2 = Neuhaus | first2 = David
| date=24 January 2024
| year = 2024
| url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-dilemma-of-gazas-christians
| publisher = Il Pellegrino Edizioni
| access-date=2024-10-21
| lang = it
| isbn = 979-1-281-62038-4
}}
}}
*{{cite web| title = Dying, injured Palestinians besieged in Gaza church by Israeli soldiers
* {{Cite news| title =Due donne molto amate
| last = Romanelli | first =Gabriel
| last = Sayegh | first = Khalil
| publisher = [[Osservatore Romano]]
| publisher = [[Al Jazeera]]
| url = https://aje.io/cvvtyk?update=2572547
| date =18 December 2023
| date = 23 December 2023
| url =https://www.osservatoreromano.va/it/news/2023-12/quo-289/due-donne-molto-amate.html
}}
*{{Cite web| title =Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem sparks outrage with false claim: 'No Christians in Gaza'
| website = [[Roya News]]
| date = 22 December 2023
| url =https://en.royanews.tv/news/47745
| ref ={{harv|Roya|2023}}
}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title = Cardinal condemns 'cold–blooded' killing of two women in Gaza church
*{{Cite book | title=Israele e Palestina: Un Conflitto Senza Fine?
| last = Sherwood | first = Harriet
| trans-title=Israel and Palestine: A Conflict Without End?
| newspaper = [[The Guardian]]
| last=Sale | first=Giovanni
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/18/women-mother-daughter-gaza-church-israel-cardinal-vincent-nichols
| last2=Neuhaus | first2=David
| date = 18 December 2023 | access-date = 18 December 2023
| publisher=Il Pellegrino Edizioni
| year=2024 |isbn=979-1-281-62038-4
| lang=it
}}
*{{Cite news |title=Cardinal condemns 'cold–blooded' killing of two women in Gaza church
| last=Sherwood |first=Harriet
| publisher =[[The Guardian]]
| date=18 December 2023
| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/18/women-mother-daughter-gaza-church-israel-cardinal-vincent-nichols
| access-date=2023-12-18
}}
}}
*{{Cite news |title=Gazans trapped in church fear being shot, says relative
*{{Cite news| title = Gazans trapped in church fear being shot, says relative
| last=Snow | first=Oliver
| last = Snow | first = Oliver
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
| publisher = [[BBC News]]
| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67746432
| date=18 December 2023
| date = 18 December 2023 | access-date = 21 December 2023
| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67746432
| access-date=2023-12-21
}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title =No Christians in Gaza, claims Jerusalem deputy mayor after Israeli army kills two women at church
*{{Cite news| title = No Christians in Gaza, claims Jerusalem deputy mayor after Israeli army kills two women at church
| last = Soteriou| first = Emma
| last = Soteriou | first = Emma
| publisher =[[LBC]]
| website = [[LBC]]
| url = https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/no-christians-church-gaza-jerusalem-deputy-mayor-israeli-army-kills-two/
| date =19 December 2023
| date = 19 December 2023
| url =https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/no-christians-church-gaza-jerusalem-deputy-mayor-israeli-army-kills-two/
}}
}}
*{{Cite web |title=IDF refutes claim it targeted sole Catholic church in Gaza after 2 women said killed
*{{Cite news| title = How a sniper's bullets utterly shattered the sanctuary in Gaza's only Catholic church
| last = Trew | first = Bel
| website=The Times of Israel
| newspaper = [[The Independent]]
| date=18 December 2023
| url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-refutes-claim-it-targeted-sole-catholic-church-in-gaza-after-2-women-said-killed/
| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-church-palestinians-christians-b2466049.html
| access-date=21 December 2023
| date = 20 December 2023 | access-date = 8 January 2024
| ref ={{harv|ToL2|2023}}
}}
}}
*{{Cite news| title =IDF again denies killing mother and daughter at Gaza church, cites Hamas fire in area
*{{cite news| title = Two women killed in Israeli attack on Holy Family parish in Gaza
| publisher =[[The Times of Israel]]
| newspaper = [[Vatican News]]
| url = https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2023-12/in-gaza-israelis-attack-holy-family-parish-two-women-killed.html
| date = 21 December 2023
| date = 16 December 2023
| url =https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-again-denies-killing-mother-and-daughter-at-gaza-church-cites-hamas-fire-in-area/
| ref ={{harv|ToL|2023}}
| ref = {{harvid|Vatican News|2023}}
}}
*{{Cite web |title=How a sniper's bullets utterly shattered the sanctuary in Gaza's only Catholic church
| last=Trew |first=Bel
| publisher=[[The Independent]]
| date=20 December 2023
| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-church-palestinians-christians-b2466049.html
| access-date=2024-01-08
}}
*{{cite news| title =Two women killed in Israeli attack on Holy Family parish in Gaza
| publisher =[[Vatican News]]
| date = 16 December 2023
| url =https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2023-12/in-gaza-israelis-attack-holy-family-parish-two-women-killed.html
| ref ={{harv|Vatican News|2023}}
}}
}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}

{{2023 Israel–Hamas war}}
{{2023 Israel–Hamas war}}
{{whole Gaza Strip}}
{{whole Gaza Strip}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Anton}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anton}}
[[Category:December 2023 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:2023 crimes in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:2023 in the Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:2023 in Christianity]]
[[Category:2023 in Christianity]]
[[Category:2023 in the Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:December 2023 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2023]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in the Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:Attacks on churches in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Catholicism in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Civilians killed in the Israel–Hamas war]]
[[Category:Civilians killed in the Israel–Hamas war]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in the Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in the Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:Palestinian Christians]]
[[Category:Deaths by person in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Extrajudicial killings by the Israeli military]]
[[Category:Gaza City in the Israel–Hamas war]]
[[Category:Gaza City in the Israel–Hamas war]]
[[Category:Holy See–Israel relations]]
[[Category:Holy See–Israel relations]]
[[Category:Holy See–State of Palestine relations]]
[[Category:Holy See–State of Palestine relations]]
[[Category:Incidents of violence against women]]
[[Category:Israeli war crimes in the Israel–Hamas war]]
[[Category:Israeli war crimes in the Israel–Hamas war]]
[[Category:Palestinian Christians]]
[[Category:Violence against women in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Violence against women in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Deaths by person in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Incidents of violence against women]]
[[Category:Catholicism in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Attacks on churches in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2023]]
[[Category:2023 crimes in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in the Gaza Strip]]
[[Category:Extrajudicial killings by the Israeli military]]

Revision as of 03:28, 23 October 2024

Killing of Nahida and Samar Anton
Part of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
Holy Family Church, Gaza
Killing of Nahida and Samar Anton is located in Israel
Killing of Nahida and Samar Anton
Killing of Nahida and Samar Anton (Israel)
The attack site
LocationGaza City, Gaza Strip
Coordinates31°31′26.7″N 34°27′7.18″E / 31.524083°N 34.4519944°E / 31.524083; 34.4519944
Date16 December 2023 (2023-12-16)
Deaths2
Injured7

On 16 December 2023, two Palestinian Christians, Nahida Anton and her daughter Samar Anton, were shot and killed while they were walking inside the grounds of the Holy Family Church to go to the bathroom during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[1][2] The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said that the shots were fired by an Israeli sniper.[3] The IDF has repeatedly denied this.[4]

Background

At the outbreak of war, the Christian community in Gaza numbered 1017 members, of which 135 were Catholic.[5] Relations with the wider Muslim population were peaceful, with outreach programmes catering to the poor and elderly, and thousands of Muslim children studied in Christian schools.[6] During the hostilities, the Holy Family Church in Rimal became a refuge for over 300 displaced, mnostly Christian,[6] individuals, and by the time of the killings, was sheltering 648 Gazans.[7] The church was well prepared to offer these services because experience of many prior conflicts had led it to stockpile supplies for such emergencies. These had been replenished during the November ceasefire, though by December the community was on short rations.[6]

After an intense exchange of emails through 14 to the 26 October between the Catholic Relief Services and U.S. Senate staffers, the latter had informed Israeli military liaisons that the church was sheltering civilians, providing them with the exact coordinates of 4 buildings.[6][7] The IDF responded that it could not guarantee the safety of any civilians inside, urging that the community be evacuated, something that was not feasible given the many disabled and elderly in their care.[7] In one email, one of the four buildings, the Handicap Children's House, was identified as being a mosque by the Israeli authorities.[7]

IDF bombings had leveled most of the buildings in the victinity of the church. On 15 November the Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran stated in the House of Commons that members of her Palestinian family, including a grandmother, a cousin, his wife and their 11-year-old twins,[8] were sheltered in the Church: according to their accounts, the compound was being hit by gunfire and white phosphorus,[a] one family member had died, a bin collector and janitor had been killed outside, and could not be buried.[3] The church's generators had been destroyed due to the bombs, along with their solar panels, water tanks and fuel resources.[8] Israeli tanks were stationed nearby, while IDF snipers had taken up positions in the apartment blocks that overlooked the compound, making movement between buildings in the limestone complex very dangerous.[8] Moran later added that anyone approaching the church was shot on sight.[8] By mid December, an estimated 19,453 Gazans had been killed by Israeli fire.[9]

Deaths

Nahida Khalil Anton was the mother of the largest Catholic family in the Gaza Strip, with 7 children and more than 20 grandchildren. Her daughter Samar worked as a cook for the physically and mentally[9] disabled children being cared for by the Teresan nuns of the Missionaries of Charity.[5] Nahida originally hailed from a Palestinian refugee family and was born in Dbayeh, in 1953,[10] Lebanon where a sector of the camp cares for Palestinian and Syrian Christian refugees. Her family was forced to flee to Yemen in the wake of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. She eventually managed to make her way back to the Gaza Strip, where she dedicated herself to voluntary work for the local Catholic community.[11] Her daughter Samar was 49.[8]

On the morning of 16 December, according to The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, an Israeli tank targeted and struck the Missionaries of Charity convent, which housed 54 disabled people. The shelling caused a large explosion, destroying the church's electricity generator and reserves of fuel. A follow-up barrage of two shells rendered the hospice unihabitable, forcing the residents to be displaced and depriving several of the respiratory ventilators their condition required.[12][3] Father Youssef, a Gazan priest, endeavoured, with a defective cell-phone contact, to get the Patriarchate to convey to the IDF that their area was a designated safe zone.[6] The IDF reported that an exchange between it and the Holy Parish authorities at that point, the latter stated that they had not suffered casualties.[3]

Around noon, Edward Anton, Samar's brother who worked with Doctors Without Borders, thought he had observed the Israeli military outside the church and shouted warnings to those sheltering in the building to stay inside.[6] According to his account his mother had been shot while crossing the courtyard over to a bathroom and had no heard his warnings.[6] Nahida was shot three times,[6] once in the stomach. When Samar rushed out[6] and attempted to succour her fallen mother and drag her to safety, she in turn was shot in the head, under the ear.[8][13][9] The killings were observed directly by one of the resident nuns, Sister Nabila Saleh.[6] Over roughly the next ten minutes,[6] a further seven people were shot and wounded, among them Edward Anton, who was shot in the leg[6] and other family relatives – Dr.Elias, a surgeon, and a 16-year-old cousin who attempted to help the downed couple.[8][b] or while trying to protect others inside the church compound. According to the Patriarchate, "No warning was given, no notification was provided. They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the Parish, where there are no belligerents."[9][14] Both Hamas and the Patriarchate stated that an Israeli sniper had been responsible for killing the two women.[15] Later Israeli bulddozers piled up wrecked cars from the street to shut the church door.[9]

The sister of one of the civilians in the compound told the BBC that those in the church were scared to leave for fear of being shot at, adding that "they believed the Israelis were shooting anything that moves".[16] Further fatalities occurred when the Israeli troops prevented medical aid from reaching the wounded.[17] The wounded had to wait until Christmas eve to be evacuated to the Anglican Al-Ahli Arab Hospital – which had already suffered severe damage frtom an explosion on 17 October[6]- where the required surgeries were not possible since many of the personel had been detained during an Israeli raid on Al-Ahli on 19 December, leaving the hospital understaffed.[6]

Investigation

Initially, the IDF stated that the incidents occurred during a blitz programmed to look for armaments in the area.[13] Following an internal investigation, the IDF said that Hamas had fired an RPG from the vicinity of the church, and that IDF soldiers had fired back and hit Hamas spotters,[4] while Catholic Church officials maintained there were no Palestinian belligerents in the area.[9] In January the IDF backtracked on its original conclusions, and that it would undertake a further examination of the incident.[6]

Reactions

The bombing of Saint Porphyrius Church on 19 October, which killed 18 civilians and wounded 20,[9] the killing of the church organist Elham Farah in the street on 17 November 2023, together with the killing of Nahida and Samar by an Israeli sniper, the destruction of the Holy Rosary School by IDF soldiers and the serious damage caused to the house of the Missionaries of Charity, all contributed to aggravating the already strained relations between the Vatican and Israel. Pope Francis himself maintained a near daily telephone contact with the Catholic parish in Gaza.[18] According to the Washington Post, In late October, Pope Francis had telephoned the Israeli President Isaac Herzog in which he affirmed his view that fighting terrorism with terrorism was forbidden.[9] He condemned the attack and said: "Some would say 'It is war. It is terrorism.' Yes, it is war. It is terrorism".[19][20] This was the second time that the Pope had used the word "terrorism" while speaking of events in Gaza,[19][20] and angered some Israelis.[6] The Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the most senior Catholic figure in the United Kingdom, said: "They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the Parish, where there are no belligerents."[21][22]

When the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the killing of the two women on 16 December, the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican lashed back accusing the patriarchate of engaging in blood libel.[18] Mitri Raheb, a Palestinian Lutheran pastor in Bethlehem, told reporters that the deaths were heartbreaking and that it made people angry, referencing other attacks by the IDF on Gaza's church's such as the Church of Saint Porphyrius attack which damaged Gaza's oldest Greek Orthodox church and killed at least 18 people.[15]

The Israeli military said it had not targeted the church and that church representatives had not mentioned an attack or civilian deaths when they spoke to the IDF on the morning of 16 December.[23] Tal Heinrich, a spokeswoman from Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu denied that there had been any fighting the area of the church.[9] Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, speaking on LBC, was asked about reports of snipers outside the church, and she responded by falsely claiming there are no churches in Gaza and that Christians had been driven out by Hamas.[24][25] Bishop Atallah Hanna, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, publicly dismissed her assertions by noting that the presence of Gazan Christians had been attested for centuries.[24] Hassan-Nahoum later backtracked and confessed she had seen no reports.[26]

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the killings, saying: "An (Israeli) sniper shot two women inside a church. This has nothing to do with the fight against Hamas because the terrorists are certainly not hiding in Christian churches."[27] British member of Parliament, Layla Moran who has family members sheltering in the churches grounds spoke out about the attack and deaths on social media stating her family members were "beyond desperate and terrified."[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Layla Moran stated to The Independent:"I have been told white phosphorus was thrown into the compound, that the bin collector was shot dead as he tried to come into the compound, and that a janitor trying to fix a carpet was also shot." Bel Trew adds that "White phosphorus is an incendiary, used to create light and smokescreens during combat. Using it isn't illegal but deploying it deliberately against civilians or in a civilian setting violates the rules of war. Israel says it complies with international law over its use." (Trew 2023)
  2. ^ "(Edward Anton's) father, his wife, and three nephews, aged twenty-four, sixteen, and fifteen, had all been injured, along with two others." Two were the children of Issa Antoun (Robbins 2024; Berger, Bellware & Masih 2023).

Citations

  1. ^ Vatican News 2023.
  2. ^ Palestine Chronicle 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Chen et al. 2023.
  4. ^ a b Times of Israel 21 Dec 2023.
  5. ^ a b Romanelli 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Robbins 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Banco 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Trew 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Berger, Bellware & Masih 2023.
  10. ^ Ferretti 2024.
  11. ^ Pupella 2024.
  12. ^ LPJ 2023.
  13. ^ a b Miele 2023.
  14. ^ King 2023.
  15. ^ a b c Da Silva 2023.
  16. ^ Snow 2023.
  17. ^ Sayegh 2023.
  18. ^ a b Sale & Neuhaus 2024, p. ?.
  19. ^ a b McDougall 2023.
  20. ^ a b McCordick 2023.
  21. ^ Birrell 2023.
  22. ^ Sherwood 2023.
  23. ^ Times of Israel 18 Dec 2023.
  24. ^ a b Roya 2023.
  25. ^ Soteriou 2023.
  26. ^ MEM 2023.
  27. ^ Reuters 2023.

Sources

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