{"id":53490,"date":"2023-10-20T20:00:39","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T18:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=53490"},"modified":"2023-10-22T20:19:36","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T18:19:36","slug":"the-destruction-of-a-church-in-gaza-by-israel-a-new-hoax-from-hamas-and-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2023\/10\/20\/the-destruction-of-a-church-in-gaza-by-israel-a-new-hoax-from-hamas-and-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"The destruction of a church in Gaza by Israel, a new hoax from Hamas and Russia?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Only three days have passed since <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2023\/10\/17\/an-islamic-jihad-rocket-hits-a-hospital-in-gaza-and-hamas-blames-israel\/\">Hamas hoax about a hospital in Gaza<\/a>, and we already have suspicious information.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><rel><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2023\/10\/17\/an-islamic-jihad-rocket-hits-a-hospital-in-gaza-and-hamas-blames-israel\/\">An Islamic Jihad rocket hits a hospital in Gaza and Hamas blames Israel<\/a><\/rel><br \/>\n<rel><a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2022\/03\/27\/russia-has-attacked-59-temples-and-religious-centers-in-ukraine-this-is-how-they-remained\/\">Russia has attacked 59 temples and religious centers in Ukraine: this is how they remained<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n<p><big>The information came from the Gaza government, that is, Hamas<\/big><\/p>\n<p>This morning, <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/uiqkM\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the Turkish media TRT broadcast information<\/a> communicating <strong>an alleged Israeli attack on the Saint Porphyry Greek Orthodox Church<\/strong>, in Gaza. As already happened with the case of the alleged Israeli attack on the hospital (which turned out to be an Islamic Jihad rocket launched from Gaza), <strong>the source of that information was \"the Gazan Ministry of the Interior\", that is, Hamas.<\/strong> TRT also quotes Remzi Huri, president of the High Committee for Church Affairs of the Palestinian presidency, who described the alleged Israeli attack as a \"war crime\" and <strong>stated that this temple <em>\"is the third oldest church in the world<\/strong>, whose original construction dates back to the year 425.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\"foto_piedefoto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53272332961_dd1c10a668_b.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto;\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"piedefoto\">Photo of the alleged Israeli attack on an Orthodox church in Gaza published this morning by the Turkish media TRT (Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/uiqkM\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TRT<\/a>).<\/div>\n<p>The Turkish media completed its information with <strong>a statement from the deputy spokesperson of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Alexey Zaytsev<\/strong>, stating: <em>\"We categorically reject and of course condemn the attack on civilian targets from any side \"<\/em>. Some words full of cynicism if we take into account that <strong>Russia has been there for more than 600 days<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2023\/02\/24\/one-year-of-russian-terrorism-in-ukraine-more-than-9600-civilians-killed-including-461-children\/\">indiscriminately attacking civilian targets in Ukraine<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2022\/03\/27\/russia-has-attacked-59-temples-and-religious-centers-in-ukraine-this-is-how-they-remained\/\">including dozens of churches<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><big>An information generated by Hamas and the Kremlin<\/big><\/p>\n<p>The aforementioned \"ministry\" of Hamas published this information last night at 9:38 p.m. CET in <a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/moigovps\/45923\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">this link his Telegram channel<\/a>. The statement stated the following: <em>\"<strong>A new massacre committed by the occupation against hundreds of displaced people within the Greek Orthodox Church<\/strong> in Gaza City, causing a large number of martyrs and injuries.\"<\/em> <strong>This Hamas \"ministry\" did not publish any images of the alleged attack.<\/strong> At 21:51 CET (19:51 GMT), <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.ph\/ffBLe\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the Russian state media RT spread the news<\/a> stating that the aforementioned church <em>\"<strong>collapsed this Thursday after a bombing by the Israeli aviation\"<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><big>A week ago a hoax about an attack on that church was debunked<\/big><\/p>\n<p>What is true in all this? To begin with, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/APFactCheck\/status\/1712930054831816861\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the Associated Press agency already denied on October 13 an alleged Israeli attack on that church<\/a>, after a hoax circulated claiming that it had been razed by Israeli forces. The AP report noted: <em>\"The church\u2019s founding dates to 407 A.D., but <strong>it became a mosque in the 7th century before a new church was built in the 12th century during the Crusades.<\/strong>\"<\/em> Thus, the information from the Palestinian presidency stating that it is \"the third oldest church in the world\" and that it dated back to the year 425 is false. <strong>It is not a church from the 5th century, but from the 12th century.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><big>The \"massacre\" reported by Hamas is two people dead, according to a Palestinian agency<\/big><\/p>\n<p>Regarding Hamas' claim about \"a large number of martyrs\" (that is, deaths), <strong>this afternoon the Palestinian agency WAFA<\/strong> (dependent on the Palestinian National Authority) <a href=\"https:\/\/english.wafa.ps\/Pages\/Details\/138469\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">has reported that two people are dead<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><big>Israel points out that \"the Church was not the target of the attack\"<\/big><\/p>\n<p>On the other hand, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/gaza-greek-orthodox-church-blastwhat-we-know-1836391\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">as reported Newsweek<\/a> this noon at 1:47 p.m. CET, <strong>the Israel Defense Forces have announced that they are responsible for the damage to the church<\/strong>, but have also indicated that <em>\"<strong>the Church was not the target of the strike<\/strong>.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In this regard, Newsweek publishes this statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF): <em>\"Last night, <strong>IDF fighter jets targeted the command and control center belonging to a Hamas terrorist<\/strong>, involved in the launching of rockets and mortars toward Israel.\"<\/em> The statement adds: <em>\"<strong>The command and control center was used to carry out attacks against Israel<\/strong>, and contained infrastructure belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization. A<strong>s a result of the IDF strike, a wall of a church in the area of the center was damaged.<\/strong> We are aware of reports of casualties. The incident is under review.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<p><big>The Hamas agency speaks of a \u201cmassacre against hundreds of people\u201d and then speaks of 16 deaths<\/big><\/p>\n<p>This Friday at noon, <a href=\"https:\/\/safa.ps\/post\/364145\/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B3-%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%83%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%84%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A5%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The SAFA agency, linked to Hamas<\/a>, <strong>has stated that Israel <em>\"committed a new massacre against hundreds of displaced people<\/strong> within the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City, causing < strong>the martyrdom of 16 citizens<\/strong>, while dozens remain under the rubble regime.\"<\/em> Note that in the same sentence <strong>it talks about a massacre of \"hundreds of people\" and then talks about 16 dead.<\/strong> In an exercise of cynicism after its brutal terrorist attack against Israel on October 7, <strong>Hamas accuses Israel of a \"war crime\"<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><big>Hamas agency shows photos from this morning of the intact church<\/big><\/p>\n<p>This morning, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SafaPs\/status\/1715270886998036558\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the Hamas agency has published photos of the supposedly attacked church<\/a>. As you can see in the images, the church is still standing, intact, and did not \"collapse\", as the Russian media RT claimed.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53271440542_6a6003eab0_b.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border:0px;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53272616053_d266d50d6a_b.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border:0px;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/53272332991_df5d4b99b3_b.jpg\" style=\"width:100%; height:auto; border:0px;\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>In this last photo we see the church on the left.<\/strong> According to the open source intelligence account <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/sentdefender\/status\/1715339342124572745\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">OSINTdefender<\/a>, the church <em>\"aappears to have only suffered Moderate Damage and was not the Actual Target of the Strike\"<\/em>. This source adds: <em>\"<strong>the Target Building was a Location next to the Church Complex<\/strong> which Partially-Collapsed onto an Section of the Church following the Attack.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<p><big>The war crime that Hamas is committing according to the Geneva Conventions<\/big><\/p>\n<p>Regarding Hamas' accusations against Israel of committing a \"war crime\" for the damage to that church, we must remember what the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.icrc.org\/en\/doc\/assets\/files\/other\/icrc_002_0321.pdf\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949<\/a> relative to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts, in Article 51.7, <strong>prohibits the use of the civilian population as human shields<\/strong> <em>\"to render certain points or areas immune from military operations, in particular in attempts to shield military objectives from attacks or to shield, favour or impede military operations.\"<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Thus, <strong>the war crime is being committed by Hamas by placing military installations in civilian residential areas<\/strong>, using them as human shields against Israeli attacks. It is a tactic that Hamas terrorists have been using for many years, and <strong>it is this war crime that those harmed by these practices should denounce<\/strong>, starting with <a href=\"https:\/\/en.jerusalem-patriarchate.info\/blog\/2023\/10\/20\/the-patriarchate-of-jerusalem-condemns-israeli-airstrikes-targeting-humanitarian-institutions-in-gaza\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem<\/a>, who today condemned the Israeli attack that damaged that church, but has not condemned the criminal use of human shields by Hamas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Only three days have passed since Hamas hoax about a hospital in Gaza, and we already have suspicious information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[10712],"tags":[829,20384,828,95,15021],"class_list":["post-53490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-religion-eng","tag-gaza","tag-greek-orthodox-church-of-saint-porphyry-of-gaza","tag-hamas","tag-israel","tag-israel-defense-forces"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53490"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53490\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}