Pope Francis has expressed deep sadness and concern over the death of two women in a Catholic parish in Gaza, where he said defenseless civilians were the targets of shootings and bombings. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that a Christian mother and daughter were shot dead by an Israeli soldier at the Gaza Strip's only Catholic church. The victims were an elderly woman and her daughter, who were shot and killed as they tried to seek safety.

The patriarchate stated that no warning was given before the shooting, and the victims were killed in cold blood. The Gaza strip has been the site of intense bombardments andground operations carried out by the Israeli army, resulting in many civilian casualties. The pope called for prayers for peace and expressed his concerns over the tragic loss of innocent lives. The situation has caused international outrage, with calls for an end to the violence and the targeting of civilians.