Pope Francis Charges Israeli Army with “Terrorism” over Firefight near Holy Family Church with RPGs Fired at IDF

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

Richard Abelson

Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Jerusalem have accused the Israeli Army of killing two Christian Palestinian women who were allegedly shot by Israeli snipers at the Holy Family Parish complex in Gaza on Saturday morning. The IDF said that there was an ongoing firefight in the vicinity of the church, with RPGs being fired at IDF troops. Sky News host Piers Morgan questioned senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mark Regev, who insisted, “We must await the results of the investigation.”

“I continue receiving very serious and sad news about Gaza,” the pope said at the end of the Angelus prayer. “A mother and her daughter… were killed and other people were wounded by the shooters.”

“This has happened even within the parish complex of the Holy Family, where there are no terrorists, but families, children, people who are sick and have disabilities,” the pope added. “Some are saying ‘this is terrorism and war,’” the pontiff said. “Yes, it is war, it is terrorism… let us pray to the Lord for peace,” the Holy Father added.

The IDF said on Tuesday that the initial review of the incident “found that on December 17th, in the early afternoon, Hamas terrorists launched a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) at IDF troops from the vicinity of the church. The troops then identified three people in the vicinity, operating as spotters for Hamas by guiding their attacks in the direction of the IDF troops. In response, our troops fired towards the spotters and hits were identified.”