Pope reacts to Israel: 'This is war, this is terrorism'

Recalling that a mother and daughter lost their lives and 7 others were injured as a result of sniper fire opened by Israeli soldiers in an attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church, where Christians in Gaza have taken refuge, the Pope said, "I continue to receive very grave and painful news from Gaza. 

Defenseless civilians are being targeted by bombs and gunfire. This has happened even inside the Holy Family Catholic Church complex, where there are families, children, sick or disabled people, and nuns. Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar Kamal Anton were killed by gunmen while going to the bathroom, and others were wounded," he said.

Reminding that a convent belonging to the order founded by Mother Teresa was also damaged by Israeli tank fire, the Pope said, "Some say, 'This is terrorism, this is war.' Yes, this is war, this is terrorism."

THEY ARE ALSO ATTACKING CHURCHES

In a statement made yesterday by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, it was stated that an Israeli army tank fired on the Missionaries of Charity convent, and that the convent's generator was destroyed and a fire broke out. 

The Patriarchate stated in the following hours that an Israeli sniper killed Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar Kamal Anton, who had taken refuge in the Holy Family Catholic Church, and reported that the mother and daughter were attacked while walking from the church building toward the Convent of the Sisters, and that one was killed while trying to carry the other to a safe place.

The Patriarchate also reported that the Israeli sniper shot and wounded 7 other people who were trying to protect others on the church grounds.

HE HAD USED THE TERM 'TERRORISM' BEFORE

The Pope used the word "terrorism" for the second time in less than a month while speaking about the attacks in the Gaza Strip. In his last statement on November 22, following separate meetings with relatives of Israeli hostages and Palestinians with families in Gaza, the Pope had said, "Wars do this. But here we have gone beyond wars. This is not war, this is terrorism." Jewish groups had reacted to the Pope for the term "terrorism" he used.

News Source: İHA