Andy Drozdziak
Cardinal Vincent Nichols said he is “heartbroken” following a series of attacks on Christians in Gaza by Israeli forces, including the killing of a mother and daughter at a Catholic church.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said that, on 16th December, an Israel Defence Forces sniper shot and killed Nahida and her daughter Samar as they were on their way to a convent at Holy Family Parish compound in Gaza.
Responding to the news, Cardinal Nichols, president of the bishops’ conference of England and Wales, said: “I am heartbroken at the information provided by Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, of killings in the Church compound of the Catholic Parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City. I have immediately sent a message to His Eminence, expressing my horror at these events, and assuring him of the prayers of Catholics in England and Wales.”
The Latin Patriarchate explained how the attack occurred. “One was killed as she tried to carry the other to safety,” the patriarchate said, adding that seven more people were shot and wounded while trying to protect others in the church compound.
“No warning was given, no notification was provided,” the statement said. “They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the parish, where there are no belligerents.”
The Latin Patriarchate also said that, on the same day, an IDF tank launched a rocket that targeted a Missionaries of Charity convent which is home to “54 disabled persons and is part of the church compound.
Cardinal Nichols condemned the ‘deliberate and callous killing’ and called for a ceasefire.
“The information provided by the Cardinal gives a picture of seemingly deliberate and callous killing by IDF soldiers of innocent civilians: an elderly woman and her daughter in the grounds of a church. This killing has to stop. It can never be justified,” he said.
The news came a day after Israel faced mounting criticism for its conduct in the country’s war against Hamas after IDF soldiers mistakenly shot and killed three Israeli hostages. Prime Minister Rushi Sunak said: “It’s clear that too many civilian lives have been lost and nobody wants to see this conflict go on a day longer than it has to.
“And that’s why we’ve been consistent…in calling for a sustainable ceasefire, whereby hostages are released, rockets stopped being fired into Israel by Hamas and we continue to get more aid in.”
Catholic aid agency CAFOD, which is funding some of the work to support families seeking refuge at the compound, called the attack ‘shocking’, and called for an end to the ‘indiscriminate killing.’ Neil Thorns, CAFOD’s Director of Advocacy, said: “Having provided refuge many times to those sheltering from Gaza’s violence, whether to Christians or those from other religions, the Holy Family compound is a place of sanctuary and should have been respected as such. It’s because it’s such a long-standing and well recognised place of worship in the area that today’s reports are all the more shocking.
“We urge all those with influence to join their voices with that of Pope Francis in calling for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages.”