Israeli shell hits Gaza church that late pope called every day
'We were struck in the church while all the people there were elders, innocent people and children,' said Shady Abu Dawood, whose mother was wounded by shrapnel to her head.
'We love peace and call for it, and this is a brutal, unjustified action by the Israeli occupation.'
The Israeli military said an initial assessment indicated that 'fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly'. It said it was still investigating.
The military said it only struck militant targets and made 'every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures, and regrets any unintentional damage caused to them'.
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Israel has repeatedly struck schools, shelters, hospitals and other civilian buildings, accusing Hamas militants of sheltering inside and blaming them for civilian deaths. Palestinians say nowhere has felt safe since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the strike on the church. 'The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable,' she said.
The church is just a stone's throw from Al-Ahli Hospital, Naem said, noting that the area around both the church and the hospital has been repeatedly struck for more than a week.
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which also has a church in Gaza that previously sustained damage from Israeli strikes, said the Holy Family Church was sheltering 600 displaced people, including many children, and 54 people with disabilities. It said the building suffered significant damage.
Targeting a holy site 'is a blatant affront to human dignity and a grave violation of the sanctity of life and the inviolability of religious sites, which are meant to serve as safe havens during times of war', the church said in a statement.
In the last 18 months of his life, Francis would often call the lone Catholic church in the Gaza Strip to see how people huddled inside were coping with a devastating war. The Washington Post reported that Francis used to ring Romanelli every evening.
Francis had repeatedly criticised Israel's wartime conduct, and last year suggested that allegations of genocide in Gaza – which Israel has rejected as a 'blood libel' – should be investigated. The late pope also met the families of Israeli hostages and called for their release.
Only 1000 Christians live in Gaza, an overwhelmingly Muslim territory, said the US State Department's international religious freedom report for 2024. Most are Greek Orthodox.
The Holy Land's Christian population has dwindled in recent decades as many have emigrated to escape war and conflict or to seek better opportunities abroad. Local Christian leaders have recently denounced attacks by Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists.
Separately, another person was killed and 17 were wounded on Thursday in a strike against two schools that sheltered displaced people in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital reported. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike.
The Gaza Health Ministry said that over the past 24 hours, local hospitals had received the bodies of 94 people killed in Israeli strikes and another 367 wounded.
Meanwhile, there has been little visible progress from months of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas aimed at a new ceasefire and hostage release agreement, after Israel ended an earlier truce in March.
Early on Friday AEST, Axios reported that Qatar, Egypt and the US had presented Israel and Palestinian Islamist militant group Hamas with an updated Gaza ceasefire proposal, citing two sources.
The two main updates in the latest proposal had to do with the scope of the Israeli military's withdrawal from Gaza during a ceasefire and the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to be released for each Israeli hostage.
The Qatari prime minister is expected to meet Hamas leaders in Doha on Saturday to seek their agreement to the updated proposal, the report added.
Hamas-led militants killed about 1200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7, 2023 attack and abducted 251 people, most of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Fifty hostages are still being held, less than half of them believed to be alive
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The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Accused Israeli restaurant protester remains in custody
A man accused of throwing food, water and chairs during a protest outside an Israeli restaurant will remain in custody for at least another week. Antwany Arnold, 50, applied for bail in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon after he was charged with affray and throwing a missile over the July 4 incident. Police allege he was among a group of pro-Palestine protesters who converged outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in Melbourne's CBD. Arnold allegedly participated in an anti-Israel chant before throwing food and two dining chairs in the direction of the restaurant. He's also accused of throwing water at a neighbouring restaurant on Hardware Lane. CCTV footage of the Miznon incident was played in court, alongside police body-worn camera footage of another incident in April where Arnold is accused of spitting on a man. It's alleged he was playing offensive chants from a speaker on Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD when a member of the public told him to turn the audio off. Arnold is accused of then swearing at the man and making threats to kill, before spitting on the alleged victim as the police arrested him. He's also accused of using offensive language towards officers during the arrest. The court was told Arnold was bailed over the Bourke Street incident, with a condition to not enter the Melbourne CBD. It's alleged he breached those bail conditions during the Miznon incident and on another occasion in July when he attended a protest in the city. The prosecutor claimed Arnold's offending at the Israeli restaurant was politically motivated and his decision to protest should not absolve him of criminal responsibility. But defence lawyer Tim Hutton said the protest was not driven by anti-Semitism, rather the group was condemning the actions of Israel's defence force against the Palestinian people. Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz said the purpose of the protest was separate to her consideration of Arnold's alleged offending and whether he was a risk to the community. Mr Hutton denied Arnold posed an unacceptable risk, telling the court the 50-year-old had attended weekly protests for the past two years without turning to violence. He was also planning to contest the charges so the delays might mean his time in pre-sentence detention could surpass any eventual sentence, the lawyer said. Arnold was also a vulnerable man who was finding his time in custody more difficult, the court was told. Mr Hutton argued a curfew and reporting condition could be added to Arnold's bail to reduce his risk to the community. Ms Mykytowycz said she would need time to re-watch the footage and consider other material before deciding on the application. Arnold will return to court on July 30 for the bail decision. A man accused of throwing food, water and chairs during a protest outside an Israeli restaurant will remain in custody for at least another week. Antwany Arnold, 50, applied for bail in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon after he was charged with affray and throwing a missile over the July 4 incident. Police allege he was among a group of pro-Palestine protesters who converged outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in Melbourne's CBD. Arnold allegedly participated in an anti-Israel chant before throwing food and two dining chairs in the direction of the restaurant. He's also accused of throwing water at a neighbouring restaurant on Hardware Lane. CCTV footage of the Miznon incident was played in court, alongside police body-worn camera footage of another incident in April where Arnold is accused of spitting on a man. It's alleged he was playing offensive chants from a speaker on Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD when a member of the public told him to turn the audio off. Arnold is accused of then swearing at the man and making threats to kill, before spitting on the alleged victim as the police arrested him. He's also accused of using offensive language towards officers during the arrest. The court was told Arnold was bailed over the Bourke Street incident, with a condition to not enter the Melbourne CBD. It's alleged he breached those bail conditions during the Miznon incident and on another occasion in July when he attended a protest in the city. The prosecutor claimed Arnold's offending at the Israeli restaurant was politically motivated and his decision to protest should not absolve him of criminal responsibility. But defence lawyer Tim Hutton said the protest was not driven by anti-Semitism, rather the group was condemning the actions of Israel's defence force against the Palestinian people. Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz said the purpose of the protest was separate to her consideration of Arnold's alleged offending and whether he was a risk to the community. Mr Hutton denied Arnold posed an unacceptable risk, telling the court the 50-year-old had attended weekly protests for the past two years without turning to violence. He was also planning to contest the charges so the delays might mean his time in pre-sentence detention could surpass any eventual sentence, the lawyer said. Arnold was also a vulnerable man who was finding his time in custody more difficult, the court was told. Mr Hutton argued a curfew and reporting condition could be added to Arnold's bail to reduce his risk to the community. Ms Mykytowycz said she would need time to re-watch the footage and consider other material before deciding on the application. Arnold will return to court on July 30 for the bail decision. A man accused of throwing food, water and chairs during a protest outside an Israeli restaurant will remain in custody for at least another week. Antwany Arnold, 50, applied for bail in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon after he was charged with affray and throwing a missile over the July 4 incident. Police allege he was among a group of pro-Palestine protesters who converged outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in Melbourne's CBD. Arnold allegedly participated in an anti-Israel chant before throwing food and two dining chairs in the direction of the restaurant. He's also accused of throwing water at a neighbouring restaurant on Hardware Lane. CCTV footage of the Miznon incident was played in court, alongside police body-worn camera footage of another incident in April where Arnold is accused of spitting on a man. It's alleged he was playing offensive chants from a speaker on Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD when a member of the public told him to turn the audio off. Arnold is accused of then swearing at the man and making threats to kill, before spitting on the alleged victim as the police arrested him. He's also accused of using offensive language towards officers during the arrest. The court was told Arnold was bailed over the Bourke Street incident, with a condition to not enter the Melbourne CBD. It's alleged he breached those bail conditions during the Miznon incident and on another occasion in July when he attended a protest in the city. The prosecutor claimed Arnold's offending at the Israeli restaurant was politically motivated and his decision to protest should not absolve him of criminal responsibility. But defence lawyer Tim Hutton said the protest was not driven by anti-Semitism, rather the group was condemning the actions of Israel's defence force against the Palestinian people. Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz said the purpose of the protest was separate to her consideration of Arnold's alleged offending and whether he was a risk to the community. Mr Hutton denied Arnold posed an unacceptable risk, telling the court the 50-year-old had attended weekly protests for the past two years without turning to violence. He was also planning to contest the charges so the delays might mean his time in pre-sentence detention could surpass any eventual sentence, the lawyer said. Arnold was also a vulnerable man who was finding his time in custody more difficult, the court was told. Mr Hutton argued a curfew and reporting condition could be added to Arnold's bail to reduce his risk to the community. Ms Mykytowycz said she would need time to re-watch the footage and consider other material before deciding on the application. Arnold will return to court on July 30 for the bail decision. A man accused of throwing food, water and chairs during a protest outside an Israeli restaurant will remain in custody for at least another week. Antwany Arnold, 50, applied for bail in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon after he was charged with affray and throwing a missile over the July 4 incident. Police allege he was among a group of pro-Palestine protesters who converged outside Israeli restaurant Miznon in Melbourne's CBD. Arnold allegedly participated in an anti-Israel chant before throwing food and two dining chairs in the direction of the restaurant. He's also accused of throwing water at a neighbouring restaurant on Hardware Lane. CCTV footage of the Miznon incident was played in court, alongside police body-worn camera footage of another incident in April where Arnold is accused of spitting on a man. It's alleged he was playing offensive chants from a speaker on Bourke Street in Melbourne's CBD when a member of the public told him to turn the audio off. Arnold is accused of then swearing at the man and making threats to kill, before spitting on the alleged victim as the police arrested him. He's also accused of using offensive language towards officers during the arrest. The court was told Arnold was bailed over the Bourke Street incident, with a condition to not enter the Melbourne CBD. It's alleged he breached those bail conditions during the Miznon incident and on another occasion in July when he attended a protest in the city. The prosecutor claimed Arnold's offending at the Israeli restaurant was politically motivated and his decision to protest should not absolve him of criminal responsibility. But defence lawyer Tim Hutton said the protest was not driven by anti-Semitism, rather the group was condemning the actions of Israel's defence force against the Palestinian people. Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz said the purpose of the protest was separate to her consideration of Arnold's alleged offending and whether he was a risk to the community. Mr Hutton denied Arnold posed an unacceptable risk, telling the court the 50-year-old had attended weekly protests for the past two years without turning to violence. He was also planning to contest the charges so the delays might mean his time in pre-sentence detention could surpass any eventual sentence, the lawyer said. Arnold was also a vulnerable man who was finding his time in custody more difficult, the court was told. Mr Hutton argued a curfew and reporting condition could be added to Arnold's bail to reduce his risk to the community. Ms Mykytowycz said she would need time to re-watch the footage and consider other material before deciding on the application. Arnold will return to court on July 30 for the bail decision.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
Alleged Miznon protester seeks bail
The alleged actions of a man charged with four offences after an affray outside an Israeli restaurant were not motivated by anti-Semitism, a court has been told. Antwany Arnold, 50, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link on Wednesday for a second bail application after his first bid was denied earlier in July. Mr Arnold was charged with assault, affray, riotous behaviour and criminal damage after allegedly throwing food and chairs outside Miznon restaurant on Hardware Lane on July 4. CCTV footage shown in court captures a group of protesters chanting 'Death, Death to the IDF' and activating a siren among the outdoor tables. Police allege Mr Arnold knocked a table over and threw a pair of chairs, before having a verbal altercation with a female and throwing a chair in her direction. Mr Arnold has spent 15 days in custody. Vic Pol Credit: Supplied The court was told Mr Arnold was already on bail at the time for an earlier alleged incident, and his previous bail application was refused due to breaching a condition which prohibited him from entering the CBD. 'While police support the right to free speech, the way the accused goes about it is aggressive, violent, confrontational, and against community standards,' Detective Senior Constable Daniel Sanderson said. Mr Sanderson said Mr Arnold represented an unacceptable risk as he showed a 'complete disregard for court imposed bail'. Tim Hutton, acting for Mr Arnold, said elements of the alleged offending had been 'unfairly exaggerated' by police in their summary. The court was told Mr Arnold was a 'familiar face' in the pro-Palestine movement, with a group of supporters present in court and online. CCTV shown to the court captured protesters outside Miznon restaurant. NewsWire / Nadir Kinani Credit: News Corp Australia Chloe Campbell, who knows Mr Arnold from their involvement in protests, gave evidence she had never seen Mr Arnold act or behave violently. 'He's always been a joy to see when we see them at the rallies,' she said. Mr Hutton said Mr Arnold's long history of peaceful involvement in the protest movement signalled the alleged offending was 'not the norm' and was not motivated by a hatred of Jewish people. 'It's proposed the offending has been driven by anti-Semitism, I oppose this as strongly as possible,' Mr Hutton said. 'It is the most passionate condemnation of an organisation, the IDF, it is a condemnation of the atrocities and war crimes they've committed. 'That chant is not specifically calling for the murder of individual IDF soldiers but calling for the end of that organisation.' Mr Arnold's supporters leave Melbourne Magistrates Court. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia Prosecutor Alex Turner said police allege the offending was politically motivated and the community's safety was being compromised by the actions of Mr Arnold. 'Politically motivated offending is rife in the community currently,' he said. Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz rejected the claim there was no intention of violence in the alleged offending. 'In the circumstances I have to say I completely disagree with that,' she said. 'Regardless of the purpose of the protest … I have to consider the allegations of Mr Arnold's behaviour on that day.' Mr Arnold's lawyer said delays to court proceedings could keep him in custody longer than any possible period of imprisonment that might be imposed. 'Many of these matters are likely to be heading to contest, if he was held in custody that would be an injustice given how significant the delays might be,' the court was told. 'We're looking at January, by that time Mr Arnold would have spent six months in custody, this offending would not warrant a term of imprisonment of that length.' Mr Turner said claiming to be involved in a protest should not absolve a person of criminal responsibility for their actions, submitting that a term of imprisonment would be the 'only course of action'. No decision on bail was reached and Ms Mykytowycz will hand down her decision on July 30.
Sydney Morning Herald
10 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Immense frustration': Labor base demands sanctions against Israel
Anger is rising among Labor's base over the war in Gaza, with nearly 80 local branches passing motions over recent weeks calling for Australia to impose sanctions on the Netanyahu government and sever military ties with Israel. Australia joined 27 nations to demand an immediate end to the war and condemn Israel's 'drip feeding' of aid to Gaza on Tuesday, but pro-Palestine campaigners within Labor are calling for the government to go further and take concrete actions against the Israeli government. Seventy-eight Labor branches have passed motions calling for far-reaching sanctions against Israeli entities and individuals involved in the war and a two-way arms embargo on Israel, including the supply of military parts and components. The branches include one in Foreign Minister Penny Wong's home city of Adelaide and three in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Sydney electorate of Grayndler. 'Strong words are not enough,' the conveners of the Labor Friends of Palestine group said in a letter sent to Wong on Wednesday and seen by this masthead. 'Expressions of concern and repeated calls for restraint have achieved little in the last 21 months; indeed Israel's violence and clear disdain for international humanitarian law have only intensified.' Local branch meetings are the primary way for members to influence party policy, outside its national conference that is held every three years, but they have no formal power to change how MPs or ministers act. Noting that the 28-nation statement said the countries were 'prepared to take 'further action' to support a ceasefire', the campaigners said: 'We urge Australia to take the lead by proposing comprehensive sanctions and an arms embargo as practical measures towards ending the violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
