Israel is careful to avoid civilian casualties, while Hamas does all it can to increase their number.
“After military review, IDF again denies killing two women at Gaza Catholic church,” by Daniel Payne, CNA, December 21, 2023:
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has again denied claims that an IDF sniper “murdered” two women at the Catholic Holy Family Parish in Gaza last week, with military officials indicating that a review of the incident does not line up with widely distributed reports of the women’s deaths.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said last week that “around noon” on Dec. 16, a sniper of the IDF “murdered two Christian women inside the Holy Family Parish in Gaza,” with the patriarchate claiming the women “were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the parish, where there are no belligerents.”
The IDF initially disputed those claims, telling CNA that in discussions with church officials “no reports of a hit on the church, nor civilians being injured or killed, were raised.”
In a statement to CNA on Thursday, an IDF spokesman further disputed that characterization based on a military review of the incident.
“Following the reports of two women that were shot in the area of the Latin church in Shuja’iyya, the IDF has finished conducting an initial review of the incident,” the statement said.
The review found that “Hamas terrorists launched a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) at IDF troops from the vicinity of the church,” the statement said. “The troops then identified three people in the vicinity, operating as spotters for Hamas by guiding their attacks in the direction of the IDF troops.”
“In response, our troops fired towards the spotters, and hits were identified,” the IDF continued. “While this incident occurred in the area where the two women were reportedly killed, the reports received do not match the conclusion of our initial review, which found that the IDF troops were targeting spotters in enemy lookouts.”
“The IDF continues to investigate the incident,” the statement said….
zeca says
You know what makes me mad? The Catholic Church and The Orthodox Christians ALWAYS side with Muslims against Israel, no matter what the subject is. They always criticize Israel even though they have absolute freedom in the Jewish State. And they know what happens to Christians in Arab countries and what is going on for decades in Africa.
bill says
After the events witnesssed over the Xmas Holiday in many countries It must be apparent to even the most dim witted Christians that Muslims thirst for the blood of Christians as much as they thirst for the blood of the Jews. There have been more attacks on Christmas festivities this year than ever before. The Israel Gaza war is no excuse as no Christian forces are involved. Yet they still cling to the ridiculous Islam is about peace
mantra, for which there has never been a shred of evidence. since Islam was invented
stevo k says
How do thez know it was an israeli sniper. By definition snipers shoot from long distances and a well concealed