White House ‘raises concerns’ with Israel after sniper shot dead two Christian women in Gaza in latest rift between Washington and Tel Aviv

The White House said Monday it had spoken to the Israeli government about the killing of two women sheltering in a Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, saying better deconfliction is needed to protect civilians and humanitarian workers.

“We have raised our concerns about this specific incident with the Israeli government – ​​about the need for those who have been injured or injured to be safely evacuated so that they can receive appropriate medical treatment,” a White House spokesperson said. John Kirby told reporters.

Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar Kamal Anton were taking shelter in the Holy Family, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, when they were killed by a sniper.

“We have been very clear that we believe every effort should be made to prevent civilian casualties,” Kirby said.

President Joe Biden and his administration have raised concerns with Israelis about ensuring civilians and humanitarian workers are not caught in the crossfire during the fighting in Gaza

“In a broader sense, of course, we are in contact and we will continue to be in contact with the UN and our Israeli authorities about the need for channels of deconfliction, if you like, that can be respected, so that when Israel conducts military operations against Hamas, it does not endangers civilians trying to protect themselves or humanitarian workers. So the need for better deconfliction, quite frankly, has also been a topic of our discussion and through multiple channels,” he noted.

Kirby said President Joe Biden, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Defense Secretary Llyod Austin have all raised concerns with Israel about ensuring civilians and humanitarian workers are not at risk.

Meanwhile, Pope Francis condemned the killings of Samar and Nahida as “terrorism.”

“Some say, 'This is terrorism and war.' Yes, it's war. It is terrorism,” he said.

“Nahida and her daughter Samar were shot dead as they walked to the nunnery,” the pope said, referring to a building in the parish complex. 'One was killed trying to get the other to safety. Another seven people were shot and injured as they tried to protect others on the church grounds. No warning was given, no report was made.”

How did Israel kill an elderly woman and her daughter on the grounds of Gaza's only Catholic church?

Samar (right) and Nahida Khalil Anton (left) were murdered in the Catholic Church of the Holy Family

Another seven people were shot and wounded by Israeli forces as they tried to protect others in the compound from the deadly attack.

Nahida's heartbroken son Issa shared a photo of his mother and sister and said his “heart was broken” after their deaths.

My beloved mother, may Allah have mercy on you, my crown and the light of my eyes,” Issa said. “Mom, after you our hearts are broken. My dear sister Samar, the light of my eyes, may Allah have mercy on your soul.'

The Israeli military said the incident was still under investigation, but insisted it was do not target citizens, regardless of their religion'.

But the approximately 300 people still trapped in the church have described how Israeli tanks and snipers surrounded the walled compound and shot at anyone who emerged from the buildings there.

They say Israeli tanks fired at the church but missed it by just inches and instead disabled the building's generator and fuel supply, making it uninhabitable for the women, children and disabled people who fled there .

The Church of the Holy Family has been a refuge for hundreds of Christians since war broke out on October 7 after Hamas' deadly attack on Israelis. There are also 54 disabled people who seek shelter there.

“The 54 disabled people are currently displaced and do not have access to the breathing equipment that some of them need to survive,” the patriarchate said.

Hammam Farah, who was related to Samar and Nahida, said the two women had walked to the sister monastery to use the only bathroom when they were killed.

Like dozens of Christian families in Gaza, Samar (left) and her mother Nahida (right) had taken refuge from the brutal Israeli bombardments in the area's only Catholic church.

The Church of the Holy Family (pictured in 2021) has been a refuge for hundreds of Christians since war broke out on October 7 following Hamas's deadly attack on Israelis

Palestinians visit the Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City on Christmas Day, December 25, 2017

“One was killed trying to get the other to safety,” Farah said. “Their bodies are still scattered in the church courtyard.”

Farah said his mother is still trapped in the church and described terrifying scenes, with dozens of Israeli tanks and snipers surrounding the compound.

He shared a message his sister sent him after speaking to their mother, which read: “They can't leave the church. Last night was horrible.

“Tanks are around the church and there is a lot of shooting, their cars in the church parking lot are damaged. There is no food. For the past month they only ate boiled spaghetti.

“At the end of the conversation I told her I love you so much. She stopped talking and we cried together and then I said goodbye.”

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, it is a war crime to “deliberately direct attacks against protected objects, namely buildings dedicated to religion.”

Civilian buildings – such as hospitals – can lose their protected status if there are indications that they are used for military purposes.

The IDF separately acknowledged the deaths of three Israeli hostages in Gaza on Friday, expressing its “deep regret over the tragic incident” in a statement and saying it had immediately launched an investigation.

Yotam Haim, Samer Fouad Talalka and Alon Lulu Shamriz were shot dead around 10 a.m. Friday morning as they surrendered with makeshift white flags.

According to a senior official from the IDF Southern Command, the incident began after a soldier from the 17th Battalion of the Bislamach Brigade identified three suspicious figures leaving a building.

A preliminary IDF investigation found the men were shirtless, wielding white flags and shouting for help in Hebrew. An IDF soldier, believing it was a trap, opened fire and shouted “terrorists!” to colleagues.

IDF spokesman Admiral Daniel Hagari said: 'This is a tragic incident, the IDF bears responsibility. This is an area where the soldiers encountered many terrorists, including suicide bombers.”