Church of Saint Porphyrius airstrike

Church of Saint Porphyrius airstrike
On 19 October 2023, an Israeli airstrike hit part of the Church of Saint Porphyrius, a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City, Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, killing at least 18 Palestinian civilians who were sheltering in the church among over 450 Christian and Muslim residents of the Gaza Strip during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.
The Israeli military admitted that the explosion resulted from one of its airstrikes, allegedly targeting a nearby Hamas rocket and mortar launch command post.
Background
The Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius is located in the Zaytun Quarter of Gaza's Old City, and houses the tomb of Saint Porphyrius who was a bishop in Gaza from AD395 to AD420. The church was also damaged during the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip in July 2014, where its water tanks were destroyed and a neighboring home was damaged by IDF tank shells. During the shelling in 2014, the church had been offering refuge to Gaza citizens and had held Ramadan prayers in the courtyard.
Saint Porphyrius is less than from the al-Ahli Arab hospital compound where an explosion killed and injured hundreds of people who had fled there to escape Israeli airstrikes.
Airstrike
Palestinian officials stated that at least 500 Muslims and Christians had been sheltering in the church from IDF bombardments. A member of the community indicated that about 100 people had been sheltering in the two story building hit by the strike, with about 400 spread across the entire complex. In an initial statement, the IDF stated that Israeli fighter jets had hit a nearby command and control centre that was being used by Hamas to attack Israel. The IDF acknowledged damage to the church and reports of casualties resulting from the strike.
The airstrike caused damage to the church's exterior and led to the collapse of an adjacent building belonging to the church complex.
Video footage from the church after the airstrike was published and appeared to show a young wounded boy being carried from the rubble. Another video published shows people searching through the rubble of the building.
Casualties
At least 18 Palestinians were killed in the airstrike. A civil defense worker reported that those on the lower floors had been killed, while most of the survivors had been on the upper floors. Several injured Palestinians were transported to the hospital.
Reactions
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem strongly denounced the attack as a war crime and accused the Israeli military of targeting churches and civilian shelters.
Former U.S. Congressman Justin Amash announced that several of his relatives were killed in the airstrike.
Pope Francis mentioned the strike in a call for an end to the fighting, humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza, and the release of the hostages held by Hamas.
See also
List of military engagements during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
Outline of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
Timeline of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2023
References
2023 in the Gaza Strip
Airstrikes during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
October 2023 events in Asia
Church bombings
Attacks on churches in Asia