Israeli sniper kills mother, daughter inside Gaza's only Catholic church

GAZA CITY, Palestine

An Israeli sniper on Saturday killed a mother and her daughter and injured seven others in the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, said the local Latin Catholic Church authority.

“An Israeli army sniper assassinated two Christian women (Nahed and her daughter Samar) inside the parish of the Holy Family in Gaza on Saturday,” said the Latin Patriarchate's media office, based in the city of Jerusalem, though the church is in Gaza City.

The office said one of the women fell while trying to rescue the other as they were heading to the monastery of the nuns. Additionally, seven others were injured while attempting to provide assistance, it said.

“Gunfire was directed at them inside the walls of the monastery, and there was no resistance in the area,” it added.

An Israeli artillery vehicle “targeted the monastery of the Sisters of Mother Teresa (Missionaries of Charity) in Gaza City, which shelters more than 54 disabled individuals, within the church walls,” said the statement.

It added: “The fuel tank and the power generator were destroyed, in addition to extensive damage that rendered the place unsuitable for habitation or providing care for people with disabilities.”

The statement also said three children were injured inside the monastery walls on Friday from intense Israel shelling of the city.

During the current conflict, which began on Oct. 7, Israel has hit churches, hospitals, and schools, which under the rules of war should be off-limits.

Israel has bombarded the Gaza Strip from the air and land, imposed a siege, and mounted a ground offensive in retaliation for a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 18,800 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have since been killed and 51,000 injured in the Israeli attacks, according to Gaza's health authorities.

The Israeli death toll in the Hamas attack stands at 1,200, while more than 130 hostages are still held by the Palestinian group in Gaza, according to official figures.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​