GAZA/JERUSALEM: Israel levelled northern Gaza district after giving families half-hour warning to escape and hit an Orthodox Christian Church where others had been sheltering, as it made clear that command to invade Gaza was expected soon.

In Washington, US President Joe Biden back from trip to Israel to demonstrate support, asked Americans in televised speech to spend billions more dollars to help Israel fight Hamas, which he said sought to “Annihilate” Israel’s democracy.

Israel has vowed to wipe out Hamas Islamist group that rules Gaza, after its gunmen burst through barrier fence surrounding enclave on October 7 and rampaged through Israeli towns and kibbutzes, killing 1,400 people, mainly civilians. “You see Gaza now from distance, you will soon see it from inside. Command will come,” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant told troops gathered at Gaza Border.

Israel has pounded Gaza with air strikes and put enclave’s 2.3 million people under total siege, banning shipments even of food, fuel and medical supplies. Israel has already told all civilians to evacuate northern half of Gaza Strip, which includes Gaza City. Many people have yet to leave saying they fear losing everything and have nowhere safe to go with southern areas also under attack.

Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, main Palestinian Christian denomination said Israeli forces had struck Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims had sought sanctuary. Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office said 18 Christian Palestinians had been killed. There was no immediate word from church on final death toll. It said targeting churches that were used as shelters for people fleeing bombing was “War crime that cannot be ignored.”

Published in The Daily National Courier, October, 21 2023

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