Israeli Attack on Holy Family Catholic Parish Leaves Two Christian Women Dead, Missionaries of Charity Convent Destroyed

Accident – death – Obituary News : Israeli Attack on Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza Kills Two Christian Women and Destroys Missionaries of Charity Convent

Smoke billows over Gaza City on October 7 following an Israeli air strike. (Photo: AFP)

Published: December 18, 2023 05:05 AM GMT
Updated: December 18, 2023 05:08 AM GMT

Following the denouncement by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Pope Francis and numerous bishops across the globe have condemned the series of attacks on Christians in Gaza by Israeli forces on December 16. The attack included the killing of a mother and daughter at a Catholic parish and the destruction of the Missionaries of Charity convent.

During an Angelus prayer on December 17, Pope Francis made a heartfelt appeal for an end to the “terrorism” of war and condemned the previous day’s attack. Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter, Samar Kamal Anton, were shot and killed by an Israel Defense Forces sniper as they walked to a convent at the Holy Family Parish compound in Gaza. The Missionaries of Charity convent was also targeted. The pope called for peace in the war-torn Holy Land and emphasized that the attack occurred in a place where there are no terrorists, but rather families, children, people who are sick, people with disabilities, and nuns.

While not directly criticizing the IDF, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem stated that the mother and daughter were “murdered” in a statement on December 16. It was reported that one was killed while trying to carry the other to safety, and seven more people were shot and wounded while trying to protect others in the church compound. The statement also mentioned that an IDF tank launched a rocket at the Missionaries of Charity convent, which is home to 54 disabled persons and is part of the church compound. The tank fired two more rockets, rendering the home uninhabitable and leaving the displaced persons without a home and access to necessary medical equipment.

The Latin Patriarchate expressed condolences to the victims and their families and called the attack a “senseless tragedy.” The statement also expressed confusion as to how such an attack could be carried out, especially during the Christmas season.

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, reacted to the tragic news from Gaza with great sadness and horror. He pleaded for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages, and earnest negotiations for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Archbishop Broglio reiterated that war is never the answer but always a defeat.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the bishops’ conference of England and Wales, expressed his heartbreak at the events in Gaza and assured Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa of the prayers of Catholics in England and Wales. Cardinal Nichols had visited the parish and praised the community for their faith and service to their neighbors. He called for an end to the killing and urged people of faith and goodwill to pray for peace.

Father Hugues de Woillemont, secretary general of the French bishops’ conference, referred to the attack on the parish and convent as a senseless tragedy on social media.

The attack on innocent civilians comes after Israel faced criticism for its conduct in the war against Hamas. Israeli military officials stated that the IDF soldiers mistakenly shot and killed three Israeli hostages, two of them immediately and the third after he ran back wounded and cried for help in Hebrew. The hostages were dressed in civilian clothes and waving a white flag.

The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been criticized for the death of thousands of civilians. Israel has claimed that Hamas uses civilians as human shields.

According to The Times of Israel, over 18,000 Palestinians have died since the start of the war on October 27, with over 7,000 of them being Hamas militants, according to the IDF.

Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, expressed the Holy See’s concern about the situation in Israel and Palestine during a meeting with a delegation of the Arab League and several ambassadors in the region. Cardinal Parolin called for humanitarian aid access in Gaza and emphasized Pope Francis’ frequent appeals for a ceasefire. He also reiterated the urgent need for the full implementation of the two-state solution and a special, internationally guaranteed status for the city of Jerusalem.

In conclusion, the attack on the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of two Christian women and the destruction of the Missionaries of Charity convent, has been strongly condemned by Pope Francis and bishops worldwide. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem described the attack as a senseless tragedy, and Archbishop Broglio pleaded for an end to the violence and called for negotiations for a peaceful resolution. The Israeli government has faced criticism for the death of civilians, while Israel has accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields. The Vatican has expressed concern about the situation and called for humanitarian aid access and a ceasefire. The international community continues to pray for peace in the region..