ATHENS

A major global Christian organization slammed an Israeli airstrike Friday on the St. Porphyrios Greek Orthodox Church that killed several residents in Gaza who were taking shelter in the building.

“Unlike reports of a similar attack a week ago, this one has been confirmed by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in a statement,” the World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Jerry Pillay said in a statement.

“We condemn this unconscionable attack on a sacred compound and call upon the world community to enforce protections in Gaza for sanctuaries of refuge, including hospitals, schools, and houses of worship,” he added.

Multiple reports late Thursday said an Israeli bomb destroyed the Greek Orthodox Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, and killed more than a dozen victims and wounded many others.

Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf Qudra said later that at least 16 Palestinian Christians were among those killed in direct Israeli attacks on the church.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem said after the attack, that “targeting churches and its affiliated institutions, in addition to the shelters they provide to protect innocent citizens, especially children, and women who lost their homes as a result of the Israeli bombing of residential areas during the past thirteen days, constitutes a war crime that cannot be ignored.”​​​​​​​