By Natalia Rueda 
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a sad and devastating incident has taken place in the Gaza Strip. The St. Porphyrios church, where hundreds of Christians and Muslims had sought refuge, became a target of Israel’s air strikes, leaving at least 18 people dead and countless others injured.
According to a statement from Hamas government’s Interior Ministry, the shelling hit the St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church, where many civilians were taking refuge from the ongoing violence in the Palestinian enclave. Witnesses on the ground reported that the attack appeared to have been aimed at a nearby location.
The incident serves as yet another horrific reminder of the devastating toll the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas is taking on innocent civilians. It comes just days after a rocket strike on Al Ahli hospital, which claimed the lives of 471 people, according to Hamas officials.
The irony of a sacred place of worship, symbolizing peace and refuge, being bombarded in the name of war is a devastating reminder of the extreme toll that conflicts take on innocent lives. It is a heart-wrenching reality that amidst the chaos and destruction, it is the most vulnerable who suffer the most.
With information from El Colombiano