Christians, Muslims gather for special Mass in Jifna for victims of strike on a church

(24 Oct 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jifna, West Bank - 23 October 2023
1. Wide of people gathered in church for mass
2. Mid of mass
3. Various of people attending mass
4. Close of Christians praying
5. Wide of mass
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ayda Ghanem, attendee who lost three family members in strike:
"The missile fell on them while they were sitting in the church. They were taking shelter in the church, but they died. Three of them, my nephew and my daughters, Viola and Yara, died."
7. Close of rosary
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) William Shomali, Palestinian Catholic Prelate:
"The blood of Christians and Muslims mixed because the occupation weapons did not distinguish between a mosque, a church, and a hospital. We have come to offer our condolences and pray to stop the machine of war, establish truth, eradicate falsehood, and pray for justice for our people who have been suffering for a hundred years."
9. Various of Mai Alkaila, Palestinian Health Minister, participating in candlelit march
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mai Alkaila, Palestinian Health Minister:
"We are now in the Latin Church in the village of Jifna in a mass for the souls of the martyrs of the church and all the martyrs in the Gaza Strip. The health situation in Gaza is tragic. There is a humanitarian catastrophe, as the war of genocide is unacceptable on the humanitarian level. The health situation is very, very difficult, as there are seven hospitals out of service out of 35 hospitals."
11. Various of candle march
12. Wide of Saint Joseph's Church in Jifna
STORYLINE:
Christians and Muslims gathered for a special mass in the West Bank held for the victims of a strike on a church.

An airstrike toppled a wall at Saint Porphyrios Church late on Thursday, resulting in deaths and dozens of wounded.

Faithful gathered at Saint Joseph's Church in Jifna on Monday where a service was held in memory of those killed.

Ayda Ghanem lost three family members in the strike including two of her daughters and a nephew.

"The missile fell on them while they were sitting in the church," she said.

"They were taking shelter in the church, but they died."

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchy of Jerusalem issued a statement condemning the strike and said it would “not abandon its religious and humanitarian duty” to provide assistance.

Following the mass a silent candlelit procession was held in memory of all the Palestinians killed in the conflict so far.

Named after the Bishop of Gaza from 395 to 420, St. Porphyrios is located in the al-Zaytun section of Gaza’s Old City.

Its thick limestone walls house an elaborate interior of gilded icons and ceiling paintings.

It became a mosque in the 7th century before a new church was built in the 12th century during the Crusades.

Deadly violence has been surging in the West Bank as the Israeli military pursues Palestinian militants in the aftermath of the Hamas attack from Gaza, with at least 90 Palestinians killed in the Israeli-occupied territory in the past two weeks, mainly in clashes with Israeli troops.

The violence threatens to open another front in the 2-week-old war, and puts pressure on the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank and is deeply unpopular among Palestinians, in large part because it cooperates with Israel on security matters.

Israel has predominantly been bombing Gaza since Hamas militants attacked southern Israeli towns on Oct. 7.



The fighting has killed more than 1,400 people in Israel — mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack.




Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...