For 18 dead on the Israeli air strike he spoke to SKAI and Christos Nikolaidis the metropolitan of Gaza Alexiosabbot of the Monastery of Agios Porphyrios.

Eight Palestinians were killed in the raid on Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyry in Gaza, he said earlier Anadolu Agency. The agency cites the Palestinian news agency Wafa.

The protection of civilians and places of worship must be respected on all sidespoints it out Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the victims of an attack on his monastery building Agios Porfirios in Gaza.

“We express our deep sorrow for the loss of life caused by a strike on a building adjacent to the monastery of Agios Porfirios in Gaza” it is emphasized.

“The protection of civilians and the security of places of worship and religious institutions should be ensured and respected on all sides.” says Athens characteristically.

Hamas: “Dead in the area of ​​the church of Agios Porfirios”

The Ministry of Interior of the Hamas government announced yesterday, Thursday, that many displaced Palestinians who had sought refuge in a church in Gaza City were killed and others injured following an Israeli airstrike.

In a statement, the ministry states that from the raid “a large number of witnesses and injuries were caused” in the area of ​​the Greek Orthodox Church of Agios Porphyrios.

Eyewitnesses stated that the Israeli strike appeared to target an area near the church, where many residents of Gaza City have sought refuge.

Israel: “Civilians become human shields”

The Israeli army admitted today that it carried out an airstrike in the area yesterday.

“Earlier today (i.e. yesterday, Thursday) Israeli warplanes attack Hamas terrorist command and control center who had been involved in firing rockets and shells against Israel,” an army spokesman said.

This center “it was used to launch attacks against Israel and there was a terrorist infrastructure of the terrorist organization Hamas”he clarified.

“After the attack by the Israeli army the wall of a church located in the area was damaged. We have been informed that there are reports of casualties and the process of confirming the incident has begun,” the spokesman noted.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the Israeli raid

The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned “in the most intense way the Israeli airstrike that hit the church site in Gaza City”according to an announcement on its website.

“The Patriarchate underlines that the targeting of churches, as well as the shelters they offer to protect innocent citizens, especially children and women who have lost their homes due to Israeli airstrikes against populated areas in the last 13 days, is a war crime and cannot be ignored”announcement is added.

Agios Porphyrios is the oldest still active church in the Palestinian enclave. It is located in a historic quarter of old Gaza and, according to tradition, it houses the relics of Saint Porphyry, who was bishop of Gaza in the 5th century.

It is not far from the al Ahli hospital that was hit on Tuesday night, resulting in the death of 471 people, according to Hamas’ account. The Islamist group blamed Israel for the massacre at the hospital, while the Israeli military denied responsibility and blamed the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

The number of Christians in the Gaza Strip has declined in recent years. It is estimated that there are less than a thousand left (most of whom are Orthodox), while before Hamas took power in Gaza (2007), Christians numbered more than seven thousand.

He emphasized that “Hamas deliberately places itself in populated areas with civilians and uses the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields”while repeating the request of the Israeli army to evacuate the northern part of the enclave.

According to eyewitnesses, from the air strike the facade of the church and an adjacent building were damaged. As eyewitnesses added, many injured were taken to hospital.