Pope Francis condemns Gaza deaths
18 December 2023
The Pope has condemned in the strongest terms the killing of two Christian women who had taken refuge in a church in Gaza.
His Holiness used his weekly blessing to condemn the killing by IDF soldiers of Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar, as they walked to a convent of nuns in the compound of the Holy Family Parish.
Pope Francis said:
"I continue to receive very grave and painful news from Gaza. Unarmed civilians are the objects of bombings and shootings. And this happened even inside the Holy Family parish complex, where there are no terrorists, but families, children, people who are sick or disabled, nuns.
"Some would say 'It is war. It is terrorism.' Yes, it is war. It is terrorism."
SCIAF is calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and for the violence on both sides to stop.
Please pray for the people of the Holy Land.
The recent pause in hostilities gave our colleagues a short window to provide healthcare to some of the most vulnerable communities in Gaza.
Chief Executive, Lorraine Currie, writes for The National on the conflict in the Holy Land.
We stand in solidarity with the people of the Holy Land and across the world who are crying out for peace.
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