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Pope Condemns Israeli Killings of Palestinian Christians; Relative of 84-Year-Old Mourns Her Death

by Democracy Now!

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Published 20 Dec 2023

Support our work: https://democracynow.org/give As international outrage grows over Israeli attacks on churches in Gaza, we speak with Philip Farah, co-founder of the Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace. Israeli snipers shot dead an elderly woman and her adult daughter at the Holy Family Parish, a Catholic church, on Sunday. Pope Francis denounced the killings as "terrorism." Farah's elderly relative Elham Farah, a beloved music teacher and member of one of the oldest Christian families in Gaza, was killed by an Israeli sniper in November while sheltering outside the church. Israeli soldiers have also attacked Palestinian Christians elsewhere in Gaza as part of this "genocidal war," says Farah. "There's no other name for it." Democracy Now! is an independent global news hour that airs on over 1,500 TV and radio stations Monday through Friday. Watch our livestream at democracynow.org Mondays to Fridays 8-9 a.m. ET. Subscribe to our Daily Email Digest: https://democracynow.org/subscribe

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Comments - 765

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@Aleaaitacest37365 months ago Ever since the pope explicitly condemned Israel, it made a lot of pro Israels close their racist mouths. Thank you Pope 464
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@kennethpurnomo72115 months ago I am Catholic, I am embarassed of Israel for such inhuman actions. I stand with Palestine because they reminded me of humanity 🇵🇸🤝🇮🇩 134
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@finnjacobsen6845 months ago The murder of these two Christian women is tragic, but so is the murder of 20,000 Muslim Palestinians. 164
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@idlanir93045 months ago Actually, in the daily life, the Christians have been treated so badly in all places in Israel. 159
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@JahJahJah4445 months ago What about the 75 years of colonization?? Its not war its genocide 58
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@honeybadger18475 months ago No one is more precise than a sniper. Anyone trained as a sniper knows the preternaturally calm yet exhilarating rush of sighting and hitting your target. How, then, did an 84-year-old music teacher become an “oops “?
Day after day we hear the IDF (and Regev and Levy) profess how the Israeli army is taking extraordinary steps to minimize casualties. Explain this music teacher, then. An elderly mom and her daughter. Seriously, have soldiers been taught how and who to shoot? ... 168
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@bavery69575 months ago To Israelis an Arab is an Arab, no matter what age, gender, or religion... 144
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@grzegorzgreg095 months ago Thank you Democracy Now!!💐
Your work may possibly save children!!!✌👍 165
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@tristan5835 months ago He’s not quite vocal enough about the genocide 103
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@kitty4tify5 months ago Why are these people being targeted? Prayers 30
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@miastupid79115 months ago Thank you for also mentioning Saint Porphyrios. It is important. Mr Farah, may the memories of all be eternal. Praying for the safety of your relatives. 94
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@jean-baptistejanssens94685 months ago Thank you for spreading the truth in the middle of gaslighting, lies,propaganda, delusions of grandeur, and wickedness in high places. 94
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@sopiananwari27665 months ago Israel said no christians in gaza. Gaza has 2000 christians 44
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@earthspirit5165 months ago Horrific...what did they think, an elderly female music teacher as a Hamas member? This is way out of control and has been! 37
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@nourn-lb6sp5 months ago All Palastinian citizens under IDF 🔥. All Palastinian citizens suffering under occupation. Free Palestine 🇯🇴 6
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@catherinefriederich5 months ago Thank you Pope Francis.
We cannot watch this keep happening. I pray that religious and spiritual leaders around the world call for an end for this terrorism.
May all hearts com together.
God bless us all.❤️‍🩹 ... 120
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@magicalmindtransformation34745 months ago So grateful for anyone speaking up for these Palestinian civilians and their plight. Thankyou 🙏 29
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@ayeshaahmar63515 months ago And ironically and in a facepalm moment the deputy mayor of jerusalem says there are no churches and christians in gaza despite being provided with irrefutable proof.....what can u do infront of such criminal brazenness and gaslighting. ... 17
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@e.t.ethics17715 months ago So sad. Condolences
Gaza used to be a beautiful place in the old days, before the troubles began.
Beautiful church.
Settlers in West Bank shot at quite badly injured a Christian senior couple who were tending to their small olive grove there. So many Christians were terrorized and forced to leave Palestine during the Naqba. ... 52
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@katherineheller40385 months ago There were also 7 other people shot & wounded in the church 26
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@cf024885 months ago According to Fleur Hassan Nahoum, deputy mayor of Jerusalem : "there are no churches, no Christians in Gaza" 🤨 20
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@sommmeguy5 months ago An unarmed. Old. Woman. Near a church. Is this the IDF taking all precautions to reduce civilian casualties? Did they think she was about to pull a rocket launcher out of her purse? 16
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@Vonnie7775 months ago Lord please have mercy upon our people ❤ 27
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@musicmanxii5 months ago Netanyahu will suffer the worst that damnation has to offer. His political power can't save him from his fate in the next life. 9
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@arabicsahlonmsa53035 months ago Why the empathy of this pope was not public until a Palestinian Christian was killed. The care and fairness should be unconditional. 11
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@Check.Your.Sources5 months ago How the hell isn’t this a story the mainstream media is putting forward? Jeez… 7
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@zainzoala10835 months ago Speaking 🗣️ now clearly, Only after church ⛪️ and Christians are shot indiscriminately. Sounds he didn’t know what was happening to the Palestinians for the last 75 year’s 8
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@mustaphacd5 months ago Love this channel. I started watching after Pr. Noam Chomsky recommended it.
Please interview Khaled Benaydoun, Professor in Law 44
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@valkiehaider45445 months ago THANK YOU POPE FRANCIS... PRAYERS ALSO FOR MOTHER TERESA'S COMPOUND... BE SAFE!!♥️♥️♥️🕊🕊🕊😔😔😔 14
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@jamiemerson72385 months ago If anyone can bring peace to this situation it is our beloved Pope Francis. God bless the people of Palestine. 43
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@user-xw5zl4cr9j5 months ago The Pope called out the injustice against the Palestinian people in general, long before he said anything about the Christians in Gaza. Where have you people been? The Pope calls out injustice wherever he sees it, including IN the Catholic Church itself. ... 13
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@mrrashidriyaz1455 months ago Thanks a lot for saint's well commentations on war, this is the true talk, as human beings we must raised a voice for law and order for peace and justice only. Good people always support to humanity. 19
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@gmedeiros57485 months ago The Pope remained true to the words of the Lord
“ blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the children of God”
Amen 9
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@user-xw5zl4cr9j5 months ago I stopped going to the Catholic Church when I was 14, (back in the early 70s!) this Pope has me considering a return... 10
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@georgegirraffe99005 months ago So this guy is suggesting that the idf sniper wounded an old lady so that he could then pick off 8 more people coming to help… like what the nazi sniper did to vin deisel in saving private Ryan? That’s so horrible in so many ways. ... 8
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@sainjawoof35065 months ago You won't see this on mainstream media. Will they do anything? Please don't just sit back and watch like in Rwanda? 12
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@shaikarif97735 months ago Thank you Democracy Now brings truth fronts of the world 4
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@ChristinaGerlach5 months ago Pray for Palestine. Then take action for Palestine. 3
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@romez83615 months ago SNIPERS PICKING SENIORS AS TARGETS............ WHAT THE HELL KIND OF SCOPES THE USE........ WHAT DECISION PROCESSES ARE THEY UTILIZING...... NO DISCIPLINE FOR A SNIPER 13
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@cheryllines41065 months ago WE NEED GOD HIMSELF TO STOP THESE DEMONS 🙏💔👿 GOD BLESS THE POPE 😢 3
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@bboyJIZ15 months ago What about our Muslim brothers. I practice Christianity and I ask why did he not include our Muslim brothers & sisters? Its because he’s a fraud. 20
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@htraindogs5 months ago Finally....he decided to speak up. He should be speaking every day ...not just periodically. As should the US Bishops. 3
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@ZZSmithReal5 months ago And then lied about doing this and had the audacity to call it a blood libel. Despicable and vile. 1
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@tiboregoldberger68175 months ago According to this measure, 226.7 million people are starving in Africa. The countries most affected by extreme poverty and hunger in Africa are mainly those located south of the Sahara. One in four people suffers from hunger there – which means that the share of the world's hungry is highest in sub-Saharan Africa. ... 5
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@ummyhoney31055 months ago Funny how an israhelli mayor was saying in an interview, yesterday"their is no churches in Gaza,no Christians too"😂 she was challenged that those who were shot are Christians and were in church,she tried to defend herself like usual " oh i got the report this morning,...... but I didn't see it bla bla😂that says a lot from a mayor who wasn't aware about the neighbors while its all in the news,the whole world was aware except israhell🙄i hope Christians now you know who is the enemy in Palestine and stop supporting them. ... 5
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@peppercat0075 months ago So it took 75 years for the church to speak on this issue pathetic
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@brumakz45705 months ago So heart breaking and painful news to hear and see our Christian brothers and sisters being murdered in cold blood even though I’m a Muslim but i still classify Christians like my family regardless of their faith may our Christian sisters who have passed rest in peace and Allah SWT grant them Jannah Ameen :( also give the family members comfort to get over this nightmare in which heartless evil IDF terrorist have brought God Bless and please keep all brothers and sisters of all faiths in Palestine safe and prevent further death :( ... 1
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@raishkhanimamkhodjayeva36905 months ago I will never forget the funeral of the journalist Shirin who was killed by an Israeli sniper and the bullying of Israeli soldiers during the funeral. She was Christian 1
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@roystonboodoo75255 months ago SAD, reprehensible actions by IDF. RIP. 1
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@iamdereck165 months ago I'd say that these "shots" are seemingly smooth, precised & well-targeted and with the current situation, nobody does it better than a military sniper- and whose side is more likely to have snipers? I don't think Hamas ever considered using "snipers". Their combat strategy uses "guerilla warfare tactics'' vs Israel's technological advancement on it's military tactics and weapons. ... 5
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@SigMaQuint5 months ago So meaningless, so desperate. My condolences.
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@lindsaymaccallum72555 months ago On 18 August 1974 , Hilarion Capucci ,Syrian Catholic Bishop who served as the titular Archbishop of Caesarea in the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, was arrested by security forces of Israel for smuggling weapons into the West Bank in a Mercedes sedan. He was subsequently convicted by Israeli Martial court of using his diplomatic status to smuggle arms to the Palestine Liberation Army and sentenced to 12 years in prison Wikipedia
A report in the April 1975 issue of the Christian Heritage stated:The Israel Minister of religions ,Yitshak Rafael, said after a meeting with a delegation of Catholics who asked for the release of Archbishop Capucci that he “had been stunned by the failure of Catholic authorities to express any condemnation or regret for Archbishop Capucci’s actions. p. 16 ...
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@rezonite5 months ago oh okay!! So now they care?!?!?!? When its somebody they know. 🤬🤬🤬 1
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@Deborahstormfoster5 months ago How do you justify shooting an 84 year old woman?
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@norikadolmy72745 months ago When Israel is shooting snipers at elderly women and executing women and babies at gunpoint, are they alleging that these people are hamas? This is sick 1
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@jeanettefigueroa60865 months ago Christians cannot fall into the trap of hatred and rage. We mourn for all those innocent who are caught in the crossfire and hatred that fuels wars. We are commanded to love even our enemy, to pray for the souls of those who persecute us. The hardest lines in the Lord's Prayer is, "Thy Will be Done on earth as it is in heaven, and to forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." It's said every Mass, and in many Christian denominations every day of the week, but to actually practice it takes Divine intervention. Praying we all unite in prayer and penance for Peace. God bless this brave innocent woman who decided she was done with the war and ready to go home. I wonder if she was going to see what resources she could find in her home to share with her neighbors in need. That's exactly what a very brave and loving woman of her age would do. May she rest in Peace! New Testament: Mathew 26 verse 52. Truth ... 1
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@Kittyparcel5 months ago And today we find out, the mother was going to the bathroom alone, a sniper shot her, she was bleeding where she fell, her family ran out and watched,but couldnt go to her because of the snipers, the daughter went to help, her mother, she too was shot by a sniper, and it wasnt mistakely ...
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@llt81015 months ago They'll just "human shields" but that community all know each other are not terrorists hiding.
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@panagenesis26955 months ago God rest the souls of and help the innocents.☦⛪🕯 1
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@mrvarand7365 months ago THANKS DEMOCRACY NOW FOR YOUR GOOD WORKS
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@user-jc4fp3cn1u5 months ago This was a bonafide mistake and not done with a malicious intentions . I am Christian i support Israel. Do not tru to divide jews and Christians. Already there is deep hatred both for jews and Christians by the ideology of hatred by the Muslims. The two Christian women are with Jesus. Let there soul rest in peace and give strength to their loved ones to bear the loss. ... 1
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@synaestesia-bg3ew5 months ago Now you see what palestinians went through for the past 75 years 1
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@Maynardtkrebs5 months ago The perpetrator actually lives in a big, white, house in Washington DC. He's the guy who has hired these hit men. 1
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@bluemoon70765 months ago The Jerusalem Mayor said there’s no Christian in Gaza …..
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@TheExostan5 months ago when is this insanity going to be stopped. who is going to stop them?? 3
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@user-xw5zl4cr9j5 months ago The Pope HAS commented about the plight of the Palestinians, Sira, he did that FIRST. He has even called it a genocide. 1
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@jesse33405 months ago He who blesses Israel will be blessed he who curses Israel will be cursed
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@Vincentdixon40605 months ago I am 74 years old and was brought up in the Catholic Church. Anti sematic views were held without merit by misinformed and ignorant beliefs of the past.
I like many others perhaps due to life experience, wisdom and realization of my own Christian faith's exposed evil past allows an openess to express against any organization, whether faith or government, my anger.
To see or hear anyone supporting death, displacement, denial of basics, and discrimination of faith is ignorance and ignorance before the law is no excuse.
The state of Israel is oppression using faith or right to defend yourself, shows by your actions as unacceptable.
If the Jewish faith believes it's God's chosen people and a number of them will sit with Him on Judgement Day so be your beliefs. Only when I die can this truth be known to me. ...
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@zohralahreche9495 months ago Hello, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you, O steadfast and patient people of Palestine ❤️, the best of nations ❤️. May Allah reward you with the highest paradise ❤️. Long live free and noble Palestine ❤️.
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@contessaclara92775 months ago I wrote a letter to the Pope asking him to intervene on behalf of GAZA babies, children, women and men. Pope so pleased you read my letter and spoke out against Israel's WAR on Gaza peoples....
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@JosephOccenoBFH5 months ago Whenever I hear about the plight of the Palestinians and compare it to my situation, I can comfortably say, "Hey it's not bad after all."
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@jediTempleGuard5 months ago and one of the israeli mayor said "there is no church in gazza". They have no moral value.
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@bluemoon70765 months ago The deputy mayor of Jerusalem said there’s no Christians , no churches in Gaza . Was she saying what the pope said was a lie ……..
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@gulperisalman69665 months ago He should be concerned about Muslims too. Everyone is an equal in the eyes of God.
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@sanasahar47105 months ago Asking help to whole world to atop war
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@MamawithAtude-ib4em5 months ago Do the ISRAELI's NEED TO REMIND YOU ALL THAT ARE FEELING SORRY FOR THE "POOR PALESTINIANS" OF OCTOBER 7TH?? YOU GUYS SCREWED UP. 1
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@faithmatthews8305 months ago And they told us Hamas were the terrorist? Really?
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@nephewpinky54095 months ago There will be a time when all things will be accounted. Judgment Day is inevitable. Praying for ☮️ 2