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Straits Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
US says attack on West Bank Palestinian church was 'act of terror'
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III, look on during the visit to the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman/File Photo RAMALLAH, West Bank - U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called on Saturday for the perpetrators of an attack on a Palestinian church in the occupied West Bank blamed on Israeli settlers to be prosecuted, calling it an "act of terror". Huckabee said he had visited the Christian town of Taybeh, where clerics said Israeli settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th-century church on July 8. "It is an act of terror, and it is a crime," Huckabee said in a statement, "Those who carry out acts of terror and violence in Taybeh – or anywhere – (should) be found and be prosecuted. Not just reprimanded, that's not enough." Israel's government has not commented on the incident, but has previously denounced such acts. On Tuesday, Huckabee said he had asked Israel to "aggressively investigate" the killing of a Palestinian American beaten by settlers in the West Bank, similarly describing it as a "criminal and terrorist act". Huckabee is a staunch supporter of Israeli settlements and his comments are a rare and pointed public intervention by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump in January rescinded sanctions imposed by the former Biden administration on Israeli settler groups and individuals accused of being involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Mindef, SAF units among those dealing with attack on S'pore's critical information infrastructure Asia How China's growing cyber-hacking capabilities have raised alarm around the world Asia At least 34 killed as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam's Halong Bay Singapore 1 dead, 1 injured after dispute between neighbours at Yishun HDB block Singapore Vessels from Navy, SCDF and MPA to debut at Marina Bay in NDP maritime display Asia Autogate glitch at Malaysia's major checkpoints causes chaos for S'porean and foreign travellers Asia SIA, Scoot, Cathay Pacific cancel flights as typhoon nears Hong Kong Singapore A deadly cocktail: Easy access, lax attitudes driving Kpod scourge in S'pore Settler attacks on Palestinians and Palestinian attacks on Israelis in the West Bank have risen since the start of Israel's war on the Hamas militant group in Gaza in October 2023, though violence has long simmered there. The United Nations' highest court said last year that Israel's settlements in territories it captured in the 1967 Middle East war, including the West Bank, were illegal. Israel disputes this, citing biblical and historical ties to the land as well as security needs. REUTERS
The Hill
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Faith leaders condemn Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
Fallout continues to grow after an Israeli tank shell struck the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza on Thursday, drawing strong condemnation from international faith leaders. The shell killed three people, wounding 10 and damaging the building. Hundreds of Palestinians had been using the church compound for shelter and aid during the now 21-month war between Israel and Hamas. The site was providing refuge to both Christians and Muslims, including children with disabilities. Religious leaders condemn the attack Top Christian leaders in Jerusalem visited the church on Friday in a show of solidarity after the strike. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, led a delegation to the compound, helping to evacuate injured individuals for treatment outside of Gaza and announcing plans to provide food and medical aid to those in need. The leaders 'express(ed) the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza,' according to a press release from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Pope Leo XIV spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone and 'reiterated the urgent need to protect places of worship and, especially, the faithful and all people in Palestine and Israel,' according to the Holy See Press Office. The late Pope Francis had a special connection to the church, having spoken frequently with its members over the phone throughout the war and in the months leading up to his death in April. Israel, Netanyahu apologize The attack was described as an accident by Israeli officials. 'Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful,' Netanyahu said in a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. The incident is currently under review by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Pressure to reach a ceasefire deal continues to mount amid the ongoing conflict that has resulted in nearly 60,000 Palestinian deaths following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the abduction of more than 200 hostages. President Trump also expressed his dismay with the attack in a phone call with Netanyahu.
Egypt Independent
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Christian leaders make rare visit to Gaza following deadly Israeli church attack
CNN — Leaders from the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Church visited Gaza's only Catholic church on Friday, where a day earlier three people were killed in an Israeli strike. The visit is highly unusual given Israel's tight control over access in and out of the territory. Israel says it 'deeply regrets' the incident, blaming stray ammunition for the strike. An investigation is underway. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, together with Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the enclave to show their support for Gaza's Catholics, according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The two expressed 'the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza,' the Patriarchate – which has jurisdiction for Roman Catholics in Gaza – said. They brought in food aid and medical supplies to the territory, which is facing a humanitarian crisis. The Patriarchate also said the leaders ensured those injured in the Israeli attack would be evacuated outside Gaza for treatment. The church in Gaza has become a shelter for the enclave's tiny Christian community and others during the conflict. Some 600 people, most of them children, were given refuge in the church before it was struck, the Patriarchate said in a statement Thursday. Pope Leo received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, in which the pontiff expressed the importance of protecting places of worship, the Vatican said. During the call, Leo renewed his calls for a ceasefire to be reached by the warring sides in Gaza. Pope Leo 'again expressed his concern for the dramatic humanitarian situation of the population in Gaza, whose heartbreaking price is paid especially by children, the elderly and the sick,' according to the statement. Netanyahu's office confirmed the call, saying that the Israeli leader 'expressed Israel's regret for the tragic incident' and that he offered his 'heartfelt condolences' to the families of the victims of the strike. There has been international condemnation of the attack, including from key Israeli ally the US, which comes at a time when there has been no let up in the offensive in Gaza. Nearly 59,000 people have died during the conflict, the Palestinian health ministry says, and ceasefire talks remain deadlocked. Dr. Fadl Naim, Director of Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, asked why those injured in the attack were able to leave when others are barred. 'Is it an attempt to polish the image of the occupation, or a discriminatory act — treating the wounded differently based on religion?' he asked on X. 'What about the tens of thousands of injured Palestinians who are denied their basic right to travel for treatment?' This story has been updated with additional developments.
Observer
a day ago
- Politics
- Observer
Top clerics visit Gaza after deadly church strike
GAZA: Two of the most senior Christian leaders in the Holy Land travelled to Gaza on Friday after Israeli fire killed three at the Palestinian territory's only Catholic church, provoking international condemnation. The rare visit came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel "deeply regrets" the strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and blamed a "stray" round. Israel strictly controls access to the territory, where the civil defence agency on Friday reported that further Israeli strikes killed at least 14 Palestinians across Gaza. The Catholic Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa and his Greek Orthodox counterpart, Theophilos III, headed an "ecclesiastical delegation" to meet local Christians following Thursday's strike on the Holy Family Church, the churches said. The delegation expressed "the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza", the Latin Patriarchate said. "During their stay, the delegation will meet with members of the local Christian community, offer condolences and solidarity; and stand alongside those affected by the recent events", it added. The Jerusalem Patriarchate called it a "powerful expression" of church unity and solidarity. The clerics, who last week travelled to the occupied West Bank after an attack on an ancient Byzantine-era church blamed on Israeli settlers, were joined by diplomatic representatives from more than 20 countries, including Jordan, Russia, China, the EU, Japan and Canada, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate added. Both churches said the visit had been facilitated with the help of aid agencies and also involved the delivery of food supplies and emergency medical equipment. In Italy, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the delegation arrived with 500 tonnes of aid for local civilians. "The Italian government calls on Israel to stop military actions and to fully guarantee the safety of the two envoys in their important mission", he said in a statement. Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos visits the Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza. — AFP Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the world's Catholics, said he was "deeply saddened" by the strike on the church, where hundreds of displaced people were sheltering, including children and those with special needs. His predecessor, Pope Francis, kept in regular contact with parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli and repeatedly called for an end to the Gaza war, which has created a humanitarian crisis for the people living there. Romanelli was one of 10 people injured in the strike and was seen with bandages on his leg. Both Italy and France called the strike "unacceptable" while US President Donald Trump called Netanyahu after having "not a positive reaction" on hearing about it, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. "It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic church, that's what the prime minister relayed to the president", she told reporters. The Jerusalem churches, which have jurisdiction for Catholics and members of the Greek Orthodox church across Israel and the Palestinian territories, said they had ensured the medical evacuation of those injured. One was in a critical condition and two others were seriously wounded, the Jerusalem Patriarchate said. Out of the Gaza Strip's population of more than two million, about 1,000 are Christians. Most of them are Orthodox but according to the Latin Patriarchate, there are about 135 Catholics in the territory. Israel's military maintains that it does not deliberately target churches and religious sites. But the Jerusalem Patriarchate said there had been "repeated assaults on Christian holy sites in Gaza". Israel's military retaliation has killed at least 58,667 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the health ministry in Gaza. Indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas began in the Qatari capital Doha on July 6 to try to agree on a 60-day ceasefire after 21 months of hostilities. — AFP
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Christian leaders make rare visit to Gaza following deadly Israeli church attack
Leaders from the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Church visited Gaza's only Catholic church on Friday, where a day earlier three people were killed in an Israeli strike. The visit is highly unusual given Israel's tight control over access in and out of the territory. Israel says it 'deeply regrets' the incident, blaming stray ammunition for the strike. An investigation is underway. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, together with Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the enclave to show their support for Gaza's Catholics, according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The two expressed 'the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza,' the Patriarchate - which has jurisdiction for Roman Catholics in Gaza - said. They brought in food aid and medical supplies to the territory, which is facing a humanitarian crisis. The Patriarchate also said the leaders ensured those injured in the Israeli attack would be evacuated outside Gaza for treatment. The church in Gaza has become a shelter for the enclave's tiny Christian community and others during the conflict. Some 600 people, most of them children, were given refuge in the church before it was struck, the Patriarchate said in a statement Thursday. Pope Leo received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, in which the pontiff expressed the importance of protecting places of worship, the Vatican said. During the call, Leo renewed his calls for a ceasefire to be reached by the warring sides in Gaza. Pope Leo 'again expressed his concern for the dramatic humanitarian situation of the population in Gaza, whose heartbreaking price is paid especially by children, the elderly and the sick,' according to the statement. Netanyahu's office confirmed the call, saying that the Israeli leader 'expressed Israel's regret for the tragic incident' and that he offered his 'heartfelt condolences' to the families of the victims of the strike. There has been international condemnation of the attack, including from key Israeli ally the US, which comes at a time when there has been no let up in the offensive in Gaza. Nearly 59,000 people have died during the conflict, the Palestinian health ministry says, and ceasefire talks remain deadlocked. Dr. Fadl Naim, Director of Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza, asked why those injured in the attack were able to leave when others are barred. 'Is it an attempt to polish the image of the occupation, or a discriminatory act — treating the wounded differently based on religion?' he asked on X. 'What about the tens of thousands of injured Palestinians who are denied their basic right to travel for treatment?' This story has been updated with additional developments. CNN's Dana Karni contributed to this report.
