GAZA CITY: Two of probably the most senior Christian leaders within the Holy Land travelled to Gaza on Friday (Jul 18) after Israeli fire killed three on the Palestinian territory’s solely Catholic church, frightening worldwide condemnation.
The uncommon go to got here after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated Israel “deeply regrets” the strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and blamed a “stray” spherical.
Israel strictly controls entry to the territory, the place the civil defence company on Friday reported that additional Israeli strikes killed at the least 14 Palestinians throughout Gaza.
The Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and his Greek Orthodox counterpart, Theophilos III, headed an “ecclesiastical delegation” to fulfill native Christians following Thursday’s strike on the Holy Household Church, the church buildings stated.
The delegation expressed “the shared pastoral solicitude of the Church buildings of the Holy Land and their concern for the group of Gaza”, the Latin Patriarchate stated.
“Throughout their keep, the delegation will meet with members of the native Christian group, provide condolences and solidarity, and stand alongside these affected by the latest occasions,” it added.
The Jerusalem Patriarchate known as it a “highly effective expression” of church unity and solidarity.
The clerics, who final week travelled to the occupied West Financial institution after an assault on an historic Byzantine-era church blamed on Israeli settlers, had been joined by diplomatic representatives from greater than 20 nations, together with Jordan, Russia, China, the EU, Japan, and Canada, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate added.
