Pope Francis Charges Israeli Army with “Terrorism” over Firefight near Holy Family Church with RPGs Fired at IDF – Israel Denies the Accusations | The Gateway Pundit

Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Jerusalem have accused the Israeli Military of killing two Christian Palestinian girls who had been allegedly shot by Israeli snipers on the Holy Household Parish advanced in Gaza on Saturday morning. The IDF stated that there was an ongoing firefight within the neighborhood of the church, with RPGs being fired at IDF troops. Sky Information host Piers Morgan questioned senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mark Regev, who insisted, “We should await the outcomes of the investigation.”

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa said on Saturday morning that “round midday” on Dec. 16, a sniper of the IDF “murdered two Christian girls contained in the Holy Household Parish in Gaza, the place nearly all of Christian households has taken refuge for the reason that begin of the conflict.” A number of others had been additionally shot, the assertion stated.

“No warning was given, no notification was supplied,” the patriarchate stated. “They had been shot in chilly blood contained in the premises of the parish, the place there aren’t any belligerents.”

With out ready for the official investigation, Pope Francis on Sunday known as the alleged assault “terrorism”, claiming that “unarmed civilians” had been focused by the IDF.

“I proceed receiving very severe and unhappy information about Gaza,” the pope stated on the finish of the Angelus prayer. “A mom and her daughter… had been killed and different folks had been wounded by the shooters.”

“This has occurred even throughout the parish advanced of the Holy Household, the place there aren’t any terrorists, however households, kids, people who find themselves sick and have disabilities,” the pope added. “Some are saying ‘that is terrorism and conflict,’” the pontiff stated. “Sure, it’s conflict, it’s terrorism… allow us to pray to the Lord for peace,” the Holy Father added.

The IDF stated on Tuesday that the preliminary evaluation of the incident “discovered that on December seventeenth, within the early afternoon, Hamas terrorists launched a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) at IDF troops from the neighborhood of the church. The troops then recognized three folks within the neighborhood, working as spotters for Hamas by guiding their assaults within the course of the IDF troops. In response, our troops fired in the direction of the spotters and hits had been recognized.”

“Whereas this incident occurred within the space the place the 2 girls had been reportedly killed, the reviews acquired don’t match the conclusion of our preliminary evaluation which discovered that the IDF troops had been focusing on spotters in enemy lookouts. We’re persevering with our examination of the incident,” the assertion added.

“The IDF takes claims of strikes on delicate websites very severely, particularly church buildings which can be the holy websites for the Christian religion. The IDF directs its operations towards the Hamas terrorist group and never towards civilians, no matter their non secular affiliation.”

“The IDF takes many measures to mitigate hurt to civilians within the Gaza Strip. These efforts stand in distinction to Hamas that does the whole lot in its energy to hazard civilians and exploits them, in addition to non secular websites, as human shields for his or her terrorist actions,” the IDF stated.

Israel later got here out and stated they weren’t working in that space on the time of the capturing.

It’s “nice” information protection for the journalists and information pundits to assert the Catholic Church, the Holy Household Parish in Gaza is beneath fireplace from @IDF and that two girls had been killed. BUT the IDF weren’t working in that space final Saturday.

So had been they killed and if that’s the case, by whom? pic.twitter.com/M1x71e7dlq

— James J. Marlow (@James_J_Marlow) December 19, 2023