Israel-Gaza war
Vincent Nichols says shooting mother and daughter did not strengthen Israel's right to self-defense
The shooting of a mother and daughter, allegedly by an Israeli military sniper in a church compound in Gaza City, was a “cold-blooded murder”, England's most senior Catholic cleric has said.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the archbishop of Westminster, said the shooting “did nothing to strengthen Israel's right to self-defense.”
According to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the two women were killed on Saturday in the parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City. Most Christian families in Gaza have sought refuge in the compound since the war began.
Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar were shot dead as they walked to the sister's convent, the patriarchate said. One was killed while trying to carry the other to safety.
“Seven other people were shot and injured while attempting to protect others on church property. There was no warning, no notification. They were shot in cold blood on parish grounds where there are no warring parties.”
Nichols, who has visited the community twice, told Sky News on Monday: “This [happened] in a place that is clearly designated as a church and that I cannot for a minute believe has rocket launchers in it [as Israel claims]. It is a community that has housed and cared for hundreds of people since October.”
He added: “It is certainly a cold-blooded murder. What absolutely baffles me is that this does nothing to promote Israel’s right to self-defense.”
Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, also criticized Israeli forces on Monday for allegedly shooting and killing people on church grounds, saying such actions would not help in their war to defeat Hamas.
“This has nothing to do with the fight against Hamas, because the terrorists are certainly not hiding in Christian churches,” he said.
On Sunday, Pope Francis suggested Israel was using “terrorist” tactics in Gaza as he deplored the killing of the women.
The Pope said: “Unarmed civilians are the subject of bombings and shootings. And this happened even within the Holy Family parish complex, where there are no terrorists, but families, children, the sick or disabled, nuns.
“Some would say, ‘It’s war. It's terrorism.' Yes, it's war. It’s terrorism.”
Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said: “We don't shoot people who go to church to pray, that just doesn't happen, that's not the way.” [Israel Defense Forces] is working.”
In response to Nichols' comments, he told Sky News an investigation was underway. “Could they have been killed? [in the crossfire] of Palestinian terrorists who indiscriminately shot our people? I don't know.”
He added: “I think the pope and the archbishop are relying on reports they have heard from Gaza. Hamas has the weapons. People don’t speak out of step without suffering violent retribution – that’s a fact in Hamas territory – so you have to be very careful with these reports.”
Relatives of Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, were “under siege by Israeli forces” at the Holy Family church complex, she told the Guardian at the weekend.
Moran said her relatives – her grandmother, her son, his wife and their 11-year-old twins – had been at the church since their home was bombed in the first week of the war and were now “completely frightened.”
She added that Israeli forces have since “taken over the building opposite the Church of the Holy Family and there are now snipers at every window with their weapons pointed at the church.” There is also a tank that has taken up position outside. Anyone who tries to move will be shot at.”
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