At least eight people were killed, among them one child, and several were injured in Israeli airstrike on the historical Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza city late on Thursday night.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the attack, while the Greek Foreign Ministry issued a statement merely expressing its “deep sorrow” for the loss of lives.
Dozens of displaced residents of Gaza had sought shelter in the church, there were estimated 385 people. Note that there are 24 Greek nationals living in the Gaza Strip.
A survivor told Qatar’s Al Jazeera Arabic television that there was no warning from the Israeli military beforehand.
Survivor testimonies recount the horrifying moment when Israeli warplanes targeted Gaza's oldest church. The Church of Saint Porphyrius, a sanctuary for nearly 400 civilians, now reports close to 40 deaths and dozens injured. pic.twitter.com/ln2ldkbHNt
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 20, 2023
Site of bombardment that leveled the Orthodox Church administration building and caused heavy damage to the historic Church. Utter devastation pic.twitter.com/fp0yvtN24g
— Nour Odeh 🇵🇸 #NojusticeNopeace (@nour_odeh) October 19, 2023
Mohammed Abu Selmia, director general of Shifa Hospital, said dozens were hurt at the Church of Saint Porphyrios but could not give a precise death toll because bodies were still under the rubble, the Associated Press reported.
Palestinian authorities blamed the blast on an Israeli airstrike, a claim that could not be independently verified, the news agency noted.
Israel’s military reportedly said it is reviewing reports on casualties after Hamas said the attack on the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City killed and injured a ‘large number’ of people.
Later on social media it was posted: “Israel Defense Forces said in an email statement” that a strike targeting a Hamas control centre “damaged the wall of a church in the area”.
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The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem issued a statement condemning the attack and said it would “not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty” to provide assistance.
It became a mosque in the 7th century before a new church was built in the 12th century during the Crusades.
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