Israel Admits Its Attack On Gaza Destroys Church, Is Being Investigated

DOCUMENTATION/UNSPLASH

JAKARTA - The Israeli army acknowledged the church in Gaza was damaged when its troops targeted a site known as being close to the Hamas commander in Gaza.

"Fightcrafts are targeting the headquarters of members of the Hamas (Palestinian) military organization, who were involved in rocket and mortar shootings in Israeli territory," the Israeli army's press office told Anadolu.

The Israeli military later said its planes launched an attack on the target, which caused a wave of explosions that damaged the walls of a church in the area.

"Israel knows there are injuries and the accident is being investigated," the military said.

Earlier, Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf Qudra said at least 16 Palestinian Christians were among those killed in a direct Israeli attack on a Greek Orthodox church on Thursday night (19/10) in Gaza City.

Qudra said the death toll in Gaza as a result of the ongoing bombing by Israel had risen to 4,137.

The number of injured victims increased to 13,300 people and more than 1,000 others were still missing.

The attack that hit the church came after an airstrike against a hospital, which is affiliated with the church, took place on Tuesday (17/10), killing about 500 victims and injuring hundreds of other people.

However, Israel denies being involved in the attack on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital.