WASHINGTON, DC: Former Michigan Congressman Justin Amash has announced a tragedy that struck his family amid the ongoing airstrikes between Israel and the militant group Hamas.
The incident occurred at the Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church, a place where his relatives had sought refuge, as per New York Post.
Justin Amash confirmed his relatives died in an airstrike on Gaza church
Justin Amash, who made history as the first Palestinian American to serve in Congress in 2011, expressed his anguish on X (formerly Twitter) which was widely shared. He confirmed the devastating news that some of his relatives, including Viola and Yara, had perished in the Israeli airstrike at the Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza.
The attack resulted in a portion of the church complex being reduced to rubble.
In a heartfelt message, Amash conveyed his deep concern for his family and the suffering Palestinian Christian community, stating, "The Palestinian Christian community has endured so much. Our family is hurting badly. May God watch over all Christians in Gaza — and all Israelis and Palestinians who are suffering, whatever their religion or creed."
Amash had represented Michigan's 3rd Congressional District as a Republican before becoming an independent in 2019 and later a member of the Libertarian Party in 2020.
Israel responds to the strike on Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church in Gaza
Israel, in response to the tragedy, clarified that the Christian church was not the intended target of the airstrike. Israeli officials explained that the airstrike had been directed at a Hamas command center, which was responsible for launching rockets toward Israel.
In an official statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) noted, "Earlier today, [Israel Defense Forces] fighter jets struck the command and control center belonging to a Hamas terrorist, involved in the launching of rockets and mortars toward Israel."
The IDF further highlighted that the command center was instrumental in executing attacks against Israel and contained militant infrastructure linked to Hamas.
The statement acknowledged the damage to a church wall and the casualties resulting from the incident, adding that the situation was under review. The IDF also accused Hamas of "intentionally" using Gaza residents as "human shields."
In response to the escalating violence, the IDF has urged civilians in the northern parts of Gaza to evacuate to the south.
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemns Israeli airstrike on church
The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem strongly condemned the Israeli airstrike on its church compound in Gaza, expressing its outrage, according to The Washington Post.
Approximately 1,000 Christians, predominantly of the Greek Orthodox faith, reside within Gaza's population of 2.3 million.
During the 2014 Gaza war, around 1,000 Palestinian Muslims sought refuge from Israeli shelling, in the Church of St Porphyrius, where graves were damaged due to shrapnel from a nearby strike.
As tensions escalate, Israel continues to carry out airstrikes on Gaza in response to Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the loss of more than 1,000 lives.
