Israeli army labels people killed in Gaza church attack as "civilian casualties"

The Israeli army has defended its actions in the "church attack" in the blockaded Gaza Strip, which resulted in the deaths of 20 people, by claiming its primary target was Hamas and describing those killed as "civilian casualties."

In a written statement from the Israeli army spokesperson's office, it was alleged that Israeli fighter jets had targeted a Hamas military command-and-control center used for launching rockets and mortars in Gaza's Al-Zaytoun neighborhood the previous night.

The statement claimed that the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza, which dates back to the year 425, had "suffered civilian casualties" during the strike, while asserting that "the church was absolutely not the primary target."

Accusing Hamas of "using civilian areas as shields," the Israeli army stated that it had issued warnings to residents living in northern Gaza to evacuate to the southern region to "prevent harm to civilians."

In the attack carried out by Israel on the night of October 19, 20 Palestinians, 18 of whom were Christian, who had taken refuge in the Greek Orthodox Church, lost their lives.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem had condemned the attack by Israel on the historic church where displaced people in the Gaza Strip had sought shelter.