“Layla Moran fears for family members trapped in Holy Family Church under Israeli sniper fire in Gaza City”

Accident – death – Obituary News : Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat MP of Palestinian descent, has recently expressed her concerns about the dire situation inside the Holy Family Church in Gaza City. According to Moran, her relatives are among the 300 people seeking shelter in the Catholic church, which has been targeted by Israeli sniper fire. She revealed that the people inside the church have run out of food and water, with the last remaining generator that provided water now no longer functioning.

Moran further explained that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have been firing at anyone who tries to move between rooms within the building, keeping her family members separated. Tragically, two Christian women, a mother and daughter, were killed by sniper fire at the compound, while seven others were wounded. This adds to the reported death toll of six people, including a bin collector and janitor who were killed earlier in the week.

Speaking to ITV News, Layla Moran expressed her fears that her relatives may not survive until the end of the week, let alone celebrate Christmas. She highlighted the distressing situation, where Christians seeking sanctuary in a church are facing gunfire without access to essential supplies. Moran criticized the IDF’s claim that they do not target civilians, stating that for two months, it has been evident that these are civilians seeking refuge. She emphasized that if the violence does not stop, achieving lasting peace and the establishment of two states will become increasingly difficult.

Layla Moran welcomed the call by the UK’s foreign secretary, Lord David Cameron, for a “sustainable ceasefire” in Gaza. However, she emphasized that if the violence continues, the prospects for a long-term resolution will diminish. The IDF initiated its assault on Gaza in response to an attack by Hamas on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel. Since then, health authorities in Gaza report that over 18,700 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have been killed.

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, also condemned the killings at the Holy Family Church. He described the deaths of the mother and daughter as seemingly deliberate and callous acts by IDF soldiers. Cardinal Nichols called for an end to the violence and urged people of faith and goodwill to pray for a resolution to the conflict.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which governs the region covering Cyprus, Jordan, Israel, and Palestine, issued a statement denouncing the killing of the two women. They stated that no warning or notification was given before the women were shot and killed in cold blood within the church premises, where there were no belligerents.

In conclusion, the situation inside the Holy Family Church in Gaza City remains critical, with Layla Moran expressing grave concerns for her family members and others seeking sanctuary there. The need for a sustainable ceasefire and an end to the violence is crucial to prevent further loss of innocent lives and to pave the way for a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine..