Layla Moran's family trapped in Catholic church and under attack from IDF

[Silence1]

BBC article Layla Moran's family among hundreds trapped in Gaza church - BBC News

The archbishop of westminister has spoken to sky news today
It's approximately a 10 minute interview and makes a very sad watch. He looks utterly broken when talking about the situation. He was asked if he believed that IDF did not mean to kill the two ladies at the church and he said he did not

It's certainly a cold-blooded killing," Cardinal Nichols said.
"What absolutely puzzles me is, this does nothing to further Israel's right to defend itself," he added.
He said it appeared to be a "random shooting" and called for accountability.
When asked whether he believed the IDF claims that there were rocket launchers and Hamas fighters inside, the cardinal said: "No, I don't."

Have the IDF offered any explanation for why they are targeting a church in the first place?

It would be counterproductive to notify the occupants of the church that there would be a two hour break from sniper fire if you thought Hamas were hiding there.

Can anyone make this make sense?

@FOJN this is what Mark Regev said

He said he did not know whether the IDF killed the women, and said an investigation was under way.
"Could they have been killed [in the crossfire] by Palestinian terrorists who were shooting at our people indiscriminately? I don't know."

But doesn't look like in this instance the Pope or other senior figures have taken Msrk Regev's word for it
With the amount of indiscriminate killing that has been reported, I would agree.
I posted on another thread about what i read from sky's military analysts that with so many inexperienced soldiers on the ground, it seems that there is alot of shoot first and ask questions later which what I think is likely to have happened here

The IDF are refuting it.
“The IDF takes claims regarding harm to sensitive sites with the utmost seriousness — especially churches — considering that Christian communities are a minority group in the Middle East.”

Their statement is a joke seeing as they already hit a Christian church killing people and they trash graveyards with their bulldozers.
Plus blew this up
"an Israeli air strike bombed the Arab Orthodox Cultural and Social Center in Gaza, a brand new and state-of-the-art building that houses most of the Christian activities in Gaza, destroying the main auditorium.” Before-and-after images circulating widely on social media juxtapose what was a beautiful and modern community center, now amid rubble."

Opinion: Palestinian Christians are being killed by Israeli bombing in Gaza. Where's the outcry? - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)

The IDF did hit that hospital prior to that strike , it damaged the cancer ward and injured 4 members of staff .
TBH it all pales into insignificance compared what the IDF has done since and what they are doing in North Gaza which the world can't see.

@Silence1 agreed
And I can't believe there are people still trying to justify the absolute horrors that we are seeing every day. I really can't.

The US has raised concerns with Israel after reports that an Israeli military sniper shot and killed two Christian women inside a Christian compound in Gaza on Saturday, the White House said.

@Parkingt111 me too? In fact their dogged determination to excuse every Israeli atrocity is making the pro-Israel cause look so completely unhinged that I'm actually starting to wonder if they're actually Hamas operatives on a sabotage mission.
Maybe we should report them all to Prevent?

@Jarnsaxa and start 'a file' and take screenshots as advised earlier

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem - the Catholic Church authority in Israel - has described the war in Gaza as a "senseless conflict" and called for it to end.
It has now released a series of photographs showing "serious damage to structures".

Looks terrible
From the last update there are still many people trapped in the church

A travesty at such a blessed time for Christians in Gaza
There needs to be a intervention
It's enough now

Thank you for posting those @Parkingt111 saw them on twitter but tiny photos which didn't give any sense of the scale of damage

I haven't seen anything about this on the MSM. Apparently Israel can get away with anything.

@JSMill there's been quite a bit in the Guardian and BBC too

It was on C4 news. They interviewed a spokesperson, from the Israeli Knesset, I think. He said it wasn't true as the IDF don't target civilians. He also said it was a blood libel. I can't remember if he said they would look into it, but I think other spokespeople have said so. Layla Moran was also interviewed, and from her reports it seems the people stuck in the building don't have much food and water and can't leave in case they are shot at.

I haven't seen anything. I only know because I heard Layla Moran being interviewed on Times Radio, which doesn't have a massive audience.

Netanyahu belongs in the Hague, along with Putin. A total war criminal, who is determined to expunge his own incompetence with the blood of thousands.

Just seen about 5 mins ago that Al Ahili hospital has been 'forced out of service' by a IDF attack - it was the last semi-functioning hospital in northern gaza

Oh no @Efacsen I hope they get that ceasefire vote together quickly. But I've a feeling the US, and maybe the UK, will only accept a temporary pause.

The Guardian has reported the IDF appears to be denying shooting or injuring anyone at the church. There's no comment on what will happen to the people still stuck there, though.

It shocks me how people on here are still blaming Hamas for everything.

Hamas is a product of the brutalisation of the Palestinian people by Israel. We can see further brutalisation playing out right in front of us.

From Layla Morans twitter account this am

She's been granted an 'Urgent Question' in parliament at 12.30

IDF have said they have provided food and water - but hasn't appeared yet

Tank/s still at the gates

Sorry if I’ve missed it but have the Israeli army given any rationale at all for this church siege ? Or have they stopped bothering with even an attempt at a pretense ?