Christian mother and daughter shot dead by Israeli sniper in church grounds in Gaza City

A Christian mother and daughter were killed in “cold blood” by an Israeli sniper in the grounds of a Catholic church in Gaza City, the diocese of Jerusalem said.

Nahida and her daughter Samar were inside the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, where the majority of Christian families have taken refuge since the start of the war, when they were shot dead with no warning.

“One was killed as she tried to carry the other to safety,” the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement.

“They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the Parish, where there are no belligerents.”

Seven more people were shot and wounded as they tried to protect others inside the compound.