Deir al-Balah. At least 20 people, including five children, were killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. Palestinian medical officials gave this information. At the same time, Israeli authorities allowed Catholic Church priest Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa to enter Gaza and hold a pre-Christmas mass with members of the area’s Christian community.
At least eight people, including three children, were killed in an attack on a school housing displaced persons in Gaza City, according to Hamas government-affiliated Civil Defense. The Israeli military said it targeted Hamas terrorists sheltering there.
Eight people, including three women and two children, were killed in an attack on a house in Deir al-Balah late Saturday night, according to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital. Two more people were killed in the attack in the southern city of Khan Younis just after midnight on Sunday, according to Nasser Hospital, located near the hospital. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, two people were killed in a car explosion in Gaza. There is currently no comment from the army on these attacks.
Israel has been carrying out daily attacks in Gaza since the war with Hamas began. Israel says it only targets terrorists, but women and children are often killed in the bombings. The Vatican’s envoy led mass prayers with Gaza’s Christians. Many worshipers gathered at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City as Pizzaballa and other priests led prayers. The ‘Christmas tree’ was decorated with lights. The echoes of Israeli drones circling overhead, a ubiquitous sound in Gaza during the war, could be heard throughout the prayer service.
Pizzaballa’s rare visit to Gaza comes a day after Pope Francis again criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. Francis said on Saturday that his envoys were unable to enter Gaza due to Israeli bombardment. The Pope recently called for an investigation to determine whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide. ‘Amnesty International’ and ‘Human Rights Watch’ have condemned Israel’s action. The International Court of Justice is investigating genocide allegations made by South Africa against Israel.