CNN
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The situation has become “beyond desperate” for people sheltering in a church in Gaza where an Israeli military sniper is believed to have shot dead two women, British MP Layla Moran, whose family is among hundreds of people, told CNN trapped there.
Moran, British MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said 300 people, including children, were inside the Holy Family Parish Church in Gaza City as Israeli bombardment of the The enclave continues in its tenth week.
“The situation has deteriorated considerably over the past week. There are snipers shooting people. What is happening is beyond terrifying,” Moran told CNN’s Isa Soares.
“These are Christians who sought refuge the week before Christmas, after being there for over 60 days… who were told by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that they had to evacuate (and) it is not clear why nor where – there are no churches. outside Gaza City.
The plight of those sheltering in the church has been the subject of growing international attention after the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem accused an Israeli military sniper of shooting dead a mother and daughter there.
IDF tanks also targeted the convent of the Sisters of Mother Teresa, which is part of the church compound and also houses 54 people with disabilities, the patriarchate said. The building’s generator, fuel resources, solar panels and water tanks were also destroyed, the statement added.
The two women had walked at the convent when gunfire broke out. “One was killed while trying to transport the other to safety,” the patriarchate said. Seven other people were also shot and injured in the attack on the church compound, the statement said.
The IDF appears to deny any responsibility for these killings.
“Representatives of the church contacted the IDF regarding explosions that were heard near the church. During the dialogue between the IDF and community representatives, there were no reports of a blow to the church, nor of civilians being injured or killed,” the IDF statement said. “A review of the IDF’s operational findings confirms this. »
The Israeli military also said it “takes with the utmost seriousness claims regarding damage to sensitive sites – particularly churches – given that Christian communities constitute a minority group in the Middle East.”
“The IDF only targets terrorists and terrorist infrastructure and does not target civilians, regardless of their religion… (and) takes extensive measures to avoid harm to uninvolved civilians,” the statement added.
The Israeli army was confronted growing international criticism over the course of the shootings.
“Unarmed civilians are the target of bombs and gunfire and this has happened even within the Holy Family parish complex, where there are no terrorists but families, children, people sick and disabled. » Pope Francis said Sunday.
British Minister of State for the Middle East Tariq Ahmad also condemned the killings and called on Israel to respect humanitarian law.
“Shocked that civilians sheltering in a church in northern Gaza were killed and others injured,” Ahmad said in a statement. statement on Sunday.
“Israel must respect international humanitarian law. Civilians must be protected,” he added. “A lasting ceasefire, leading to lasting peace, is urgently needed. »
Several members of Moran’s extended family took refuge in the church during the first week after October 7.
His family is down to its “last can of corn” as the situation deteriorates, Moran said, calling on the Israeli government and military to stop targeting the church.
She shared that she had already lost a family member to dehydration.
“He was 81 and in good shape before all this and he died because he couldn’t get to the hospital,” she said.
“I’m not sure (the other members of my family) will survive.
“I would just say this to the Israeli government: It’s the week before Christmas, is this the time you want to fight with the Pope? Is this the time when you want to forcibly move Palestinians from where they have chosen to seek refuge?
Moran reiterated that there was never a Hamas presence in the church. “The claim that Hamas operates from this church is baseless. »
“There are children there. The women who are killed, if anyone dares to look at the photos, could not look less like Hamas fighters,” she added.
