Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemns Israeli bombardment of the Orthodox Cultural Centre
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem today condemned “the bombing by the Israeli army” of its cultural centre in Gaza, deploring Israel’s “unjustified determination to destroy the political infrastructure” in the Palestinian territory.
The Patriarchate condemned in a statement “the Israeli army’s bombing of the Orthodox cultural centre in the Tal al-Hawah district of Gaza earlier today”.
“This attack represents a striking manifestation of Israel’s unjustified determination to destroy civilian infrastructure and social service centres, as well as shelters for civilians trapped in the besieged enclave,” the Patriarchate stressed.
Eyewitnesses told Agence France-Presse that the bombing destroyed the Orthodox cultural centre and several other buildings in the same area. They said the Israeli army issued several warnings on Monday, to residents and war-displaced people who had taken refuge in the centre to evacuate the sector.
“Social, cultural and sports centres have become indispensable providers of humanitarian services and safe havens for those affected by Israeli air strikes targeting residential areas,” the Patriarchate added.
It also underlined with “deep regret that the Israeli army has targeted 19 places of worship, including mosques and churches, in Gaza over the past three weeks.”
“Attacks like these against civilians, especially children, and the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, cannot be justified on either rational or humanitarian grounds and are fundamentally contrary to the most basic moral values,” it continued.
According to the Hamas health ministry, Israeli bombing in the Gaza Strip has killed at least 8,500 people, the vast majority of them civilians, since October 7.
They were launched in retaliation for an attack of unprecedented brutality by Palestinian Hamas militants on Israeli territory that caused at least 1,400 deaths, the majority of them civilians, according to Israeli authorities.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
