After reports of the severe bombing of the Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza during the Israeli airstrikes that have been ongoing in the Gaza Strip for more than two weeks, Israeli media personality Edy Cohen shared a picture of a report from France 24 alleging that there were no recent Israeli aerial attacks on the Church of St. Porphyrius.
Cohen stated that this investigation was conducted after research led to the conclusion that Israel did not bomb any Christian churches in Gaza.
An Old Report by France 24 About The Church of St. Porphyrius Not Being Bombed
Misbar verified Edy Cohen's claim about the Church of St. Porphyrius and other churches not being bombed by Israel and found it to be misleading. The Church of St. Porphyrius was subjected to Israeli bombing on Thursday, October 19, and the investigation presented by France 24 dates back to October 11th, nearly nine days before the church was bombed.
The France 24 report refuted claims that had spread on social media regarding the Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza being targeted by Israeli airstrikes. The report assured that the church was unharmed and that the Israeli airstrikes had hit a different densely populated area in Gaza, near several schools. This means that the report refuted these claims that had circulated before the actual bombing that took place on Thursday.
Israeli Airstrikes Targeting the Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza
Israeli airstrikes targeted one of the buildings of the Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza on the evening of Thursday, October 19. This church is located just meters away from the Arab Baptist Hospital, where Israel committed a massacre resulting in hundreds of casualties.
Palestinian media outlets reported that hundreds of Christians and Muslims sought shelter inside the church from the continuous Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip. Media sources shared images and videos showing the damage done on the church after the Israeli bombing.
Statement From the Holy Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem After the Bombing of the Church of St. Porphyrius
The Holy Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a statement after the bombing of the Church of St. Porphyrius, condemning the Israeli airstrikes that targeted one of its buildings in the city of Gaza.
In the statement, the Patriarchate emphasized that "targeting churches and their affiliated institutions, as well as the shelters they provide to protect innocent civilians, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli airstrikes on residential areas in recent days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored."
The Patriarchate noted that despite the clear targeting of church facilities and other churches, as well as the Baptist Hospital, schools, and other social institutions, it is "determined, along with the rest of the churches, to continue its religious and moral duty by providing assistance, support, and shelter to those in need, even in the face of continued Israeli demands to evacuate these institutions of civilians and the pressure exerted on churches in this context."
The Funeral Procession for the Victims of the Israeli Airstrikes on the Church of St. Porphyrius
The Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip has announced a significant number of casualties, both killed and wounded, in a new massacre committed by Israeli forces against hundreds of displaced individuals inside the Orthodox Church.
The ministry stated in a brief statement on the Telegram app, "A new massacre is committed by the occupation against hundreds of displaced individuals inside the Orthodox Church in the city of Gaza, resulting in a significant number of martyrs and wounded."
Priest Issa Mousleh, the spokesperson for the Orthodox Patriarchate in Bethlehem, mentioned that the collapsed building was part of the church complex, and the bombing resulted in dozens of injuries. Rescue efforts are ongoing to recover other victims who are still under the rubble.
The Governmental Gaza Media Office said on Friday, that at least 20 people, including 18 Christians, were killed when Israel directly targeted the Orthodox Church.
The Church of St. Porphyrius held the funerals for the victims of the Israeli army's bombing of the church on Friday. Christians bid farewell to their victims before burying them in the designated cemetery. Bishop Alexios, the Bishop of the Orthodox Church in Gaza, led the funeral prayer in the presence of numerous Palestinians.
Israel Targeted Places of Worship and Hospitals in Its Recent War on Gaza
Since the beginning of the recent war and the continuous Israeli airstrikes that followed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood launched by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, on October 7, mosques, schools, and hospitals that people sought refuge in after fleeing their homes have been subjected to intense bombing.
Father Abdullah Yulio, the former head of the Royal Catholic Melkite Monastery, stated during an interview with Arab television that "the occupation is targeting the land it wishes to acquire without its people, with the aim of displacing or exterminating the inhabitants of Palestine, whether they are Muslims or Christians."
He added, "Targeting holy places is something that should awaken the conscience of the world to stop what is happening to civilians, hospitals, churches, and mosques.”
Father Yulio pointed out that "the Vatican and all religious bodies in the world must do more to halt such attacks and massacres against Palestinians on their own land," asserting that "there are prohibitions in international law, such as hospitals and places of worship, that should not be bombed. The Church of St. Porphyrius housed children, women, and elderly people seeking shelter."
He stressed, "What is happening is a genocide against the people in Gaza and in Palestine, and the world must wake up and stop the bloodshed of innocent.”
On October 17, Israeli occupation forces targeted the Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, resulting in over 500 casualties. An Israeli airstrike also hit a UNRWA school in the Maghazi refugee camp, killing 6 people. Additionally, dozens of mosques in the Gaza Strip have been bombed and destroyed since the war, which claimed the lives of around 4,000 Palestinians.
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