White House 'raises concerns' with Israel after two Christian women shot dead

18 December 2023 , 22:33

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Samar and her mother Nahida had sought refuge in the Holy Family Catholic Church

The murder of two Christian women by a sniper at a Catholic church in Gaza has caused the US Government to "raise concerns" with Israel.

Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar Kamal Anton were sheltering at Holy Family, the only Catholic Church in the Gaza Strip when they were killed by a sniper. And the White House has now said it has spoken to Benjamin Netanyahu's government about the killing, saying there needs to be better protection for civilians and humanitarian workers.

White House spokesman John Kirby said: "We have raised our concerns about this particular incident with the Israeli government – about the need for those who have injuries or who have been wounded, to be able to be safely evacuated so they can receive appropriate medical treatment. We've been very clear that we believe every effort possible must be made to prevent civilian casualties."

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President Joe Biden's government have 'raised concerns' with Israel (AFP via Getty Images)

According to the Daily Mail, he continued: "More broadly, of course, we are in touch and we'll stay in touch with the UN and our Israeli authorities about the need for deconfliction channels if you will, that can be respected so that when Israel is conducting military operations against Hamas, that it does not... endanger civilians that are trying to shelter themselves or humanitarian workers. So the need for better deconfliction, quite frankly, has also been a topic of our discussion and multiple channels,' he noted.

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Kirby said President Joe Biden, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Llyod Austin all raised concerns to Israel about making sure civilians and humanitarian workers are not at risk. However, Pope Francis has condemned the killing of Samar and Nahida as "terrorism", stating that: "Some are saying, 'This is terrorism and war.' Yes, it is war. It is terrorism. Nahida and her daughter Samar were shot and killed as they walked to the Sister's Convent."

The women were targeted in the courtyard of the Holy Family church (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The pontif said that the pair were going to a building in the parish complex, adding: "One was killed as she tried to carry the other to safety. Seven more people were shot and wounded as they tried to protect others inside the church compound. No warning was given, no notification was provided."

Nahida's heartbroken son Issa shared a picture of his mother and sister, saying his "heart was broken" following their deaths. He said: "My beloved mother, may Allah have mercy on you, my crown and the light of my eyes. Mum, our hearts are broken after you. My dear sister Samar, the light of my eyes, may Allah have mercy on your soul."

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The Israeli Defense Force said they are still reviewing the incident, but insisted it "does not target civilians, no matter their religion". However, according to some of the near 300 people still trapped in the church, Israeli tanks and snipers have surrounded the walled compound and were shooting at anyone coming out of the buildings.

The Holy Family church has been a refuge for hundreds of Christians since the war broke out on October 7. There are also 54 disabled people seeking shelter there. But witnesses say Israeli tanks have shot towards the church, missing it by mere inches, and knocked out the building's generator and fuel supplies, making it uninhabitable for the people who fled there. The office of the Patriarch said that the 54 disabled persons have no access to the respirators that some of them need to survive.

The two women who were killed had only been trying to use the bathroom when they were targeted. Hammam Farah, who was related to Samar and Nahida, said his mother is still trapped inside the church and has described horrific scenes. He said that his mother said there tanks are around the church with a lot of shooting, Israeli soldiers damaged cars in the church parking lot and there is no food, with survivors having to eat boiled spaghetti for the last month.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said it is a war crime to "intentionally direct attacks against protected objects, namely buildings dedicated to religion".

Paul Donald