Palestinian authorities in Gaza said at least 18 people were killed when the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrios was hit overnight. According to Hamas, "dozens" of displaced Christian and Muslim Palestinian families were sheltering inside, prompting fears the death toll could rise.
Hamas accused Israel of targeting the church in a wider strike. However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were aiming for a nearby Hamas military command center and that a church wall was damaged as a result. The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the incident and called it "a war crime that cannot be ignored."