Pope Francis Condemns Israeli Forces for Killing Civilians in Gaza Church

Pope Francis condemned the reported killing of two Christian women by the Israeli military in a church complex in Gaza, suggesting that Israel was using "terrorism" tactics. The Pope referred to a statement by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which said that the women were killed by an IDF sniper as they walked to a convent. The Patriarchate also reported that seven others were shot and wounded while trying to protect others. The Pope criticized the targeting of unarmed civilians, including families, children, and nuns, and referred to the incident as "war" and "terrorism." The Israeli military stated that the incident was under review and reiterated that it only targets terrorists and infrastructure, not civilians. This is the second time in less than a month that Pope Francis has used the term "terrorism" to describe events in Gaza.