Gaza Metropolis – Ibrahim Jahsan’s younger household has been sheltering on the Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza Metropolis because the battle started.
One in all Gaza’s 1,000 Christians, Jahsan by no means doubted the church was a protected house for him, his pregnant spouse and two kids aged 5 and 6. The Greek Orthodox church – the oldest within the metropolis, situated within the Zaytoun neighbourhood – has historically served as a sanctuary for each Christians and Muslims throughout Israel’s periodic wars towards Gaza.
The church was sheltering a whole bunch of individuals when an Israeli bomb severely broken one of many 4 buildings in its compound on Thursday night, inflicting its ceiling to break down and leaving dozens trapped beneath slabs of concrete, in response to witnesses.
A girl reveals an image of a child, George Ramez al-Souri, one of many 18 lifeless following an Israeli air strike on the Orthodox church in Gaza Metropolis [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]
‘We thought we’d be protected’
“The constructing that they bombed is beside the church,” stated Jahsan, nonetheless shaken from what he says was a large blast. “We simply pray to god to finish this battle.”
About 200 kids, ladies, aged and sick individuals have been taking shelter on the church when Israeli warplanes focused the constructing with two raids, stated Ibrahim Al-Souri, one other survivor who had additionally been taking shelter.
“We thought we’d be protected by the church however sadly the brutal Israeli occupation doesn’t differentiate,” he stated. “They’ve focused church buildings, mosques and hospitals. There isn’t a protected place.”
Al-Souri referred to as on free individuals around the globe to stress their governments to cease the bloodshed towards Palestinians.
“We all know that the world leaders are towards us, however as [former PLO leader] Yasser Arafat stated, we’re a mighty individuals. And that is the worth we now have to pay,” he stated.
In line with Father Issa Musleh of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Bethlehem, the constructing that collapsed was a part of the church’s compound. Dozens have been discovered to have been injured as rescue efforts have been nonetheless beneath manner on Friday to search out victims trapped beneath the rubble.
Palestinians examine the positioning of the Greek Orthodox church, badly broken following Israeli air strikes on Gaza Metropolis, October 19, 2023 [Abed Khaled/AP]
An Orthodox Christian, he stated he had sought refuge on the church after the battle started, considering it was a protected place. He remained there regardless of Israel’s order for residents of Gaza Metropolis to maneuver south – the place bombings have continued nonetheless.
“We didn’t flee final night time as a result of we have been afraid we is perhaps hit [on the way],” he stated.
For the reason that battle started, mosques, faculties and hospitals the place individuals have sought security after fleeing their houses have come beneath hearth. Simply two days in the past, six individuals have been killed after an Israeli air raid hit an UNRWA faculty in Gaza’s al-Maghazi refugee camp. Later that day, a large blast on the al-Ahli Arab Hospital killed a whole bunch extra.
One Christian, who solely gave his title as Fadi, stated no person is protected in Gaza, no matter faith.
“This message is to Biden, the president of america: The Christian neighborhood in Gaza is being focused,” the 31-year-old who was born and raised in Gaza stated. “Nobody is protected and everyone seems to be in peril. Everybody ought to transfer to cease this.”
Archbishop Alexios of Tiberias visits Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza Metropolis, which was severely broken in an Israeli air strike on Thursday. A minimum of 18 individuals have been killed [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]
‘It is a battle crime’: Orthodox Patriarchate
The Patriarchate has condemned the strike, however stated it stays dedicated to offering shelter to the displaced.
“Concentrating on church buildings and their establishments, together with the shelters they supply to guard harmless residents, particularly kids and ladies who’ve misplaced their houses as a consequence of Israeli air strikes on residential areas over the previous 13 days, constitutes a battle crime that can not be ignored,” a press release learn.
An Israeli military assertion stated the air strike had focused a command and management centre concerned in launching rockets and mortars in direction of Israel.
“Because of the [Israeli army] strike, a wall of a church within the space was broken,” it stated, including, “We’re conscious of reviews on casualties. The incident is beneath assessment.”
Movies and images of the incident present individuals, together with kids and aged ladies, being rushed to hospital, in addition to the broken constructing whose first flooring has utterly collapsed.
A minimum of 4,137 Palestinians have been confirmed lifeless because of Israeli bombardment within the Gaza Strip because the battle started, together with 1,524 kids. Some 1,403 Israelis have been killed, largely in an assault by Hamas on southern Israel on October 7.
“All the youngsters are traumatised,” Ibrahim Jahsan stated. “No phrases can describe what we’re going by means of.” Regardless of the horror, he stated, he’ll proceed to shelter on the church along with his household.
“We have been baptised right here, and we’ll die right here.”