Palestinian Christians in Gaza on Saturday mourned the deaths of a mother and daughter who were killed by Israeli bombardment in their apartment located in the Rimal neighbourhood, despite a ceasefire in place since last year.
The woman has been identified as Maysaa Khader Abu Daoud and the daughter as Marie.
Dozens gathered in the St. Porphyrius Greek Church in Gaza City to take part in the funeral, hymns as well as religious readings for the deceased.
The mother and daughter’s bodies were laid to rest, while the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, offered his condolences to the family and the wider Christian community in Gaza.
Prominent Palestinian pastor Munther Isaac also gave his condolences to the family on Saturday, saying in a statement that the “genocide in Gaza is continuing”.
The Ramallah-based pastor added: “Two Christian women, a mother and daughter, were among five people killed when a residential building in Gaza was bombed at midnight.”
The Israeli bombardment struck the apartment early on Saturday, with medical sources and eyewitnesses stating at least six others were wounded.
Since the start of the war on Gaza in October 2023, the enclave’s Christian community has been attacked multiple times, with many civilians having to seek shelter from attacks in churches.
On 19 October 2023, an Israeli airstrike targeted the St. Porphyrius Greek Church, killing at least 18 people.
On 16 December in the same year, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said an Israeli sniper killed two Christian women, identified as Nahida and her daughter Samar, while seven others were wounded.
A convent belonging to the parish was also bombed by Israel on the same day, while on 17 July 2025, the Israeli army bombed the Holy Family Catholic Church compound in Gaza City, killing three people, including the priest Father Gabriel Romanelli.
The latest killings come as Israel continues to violate the ceasefire agreement which came into effect in October 2025. Since 2023, the war on Gaza has killed over 74,000 Palestinians and wounded over 175,000 others, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
