A Greek Orthodox church in the Gaza Strip which was sheltering hundreds of displaced Palestinians was hit overnight by an Israeli air strike, the Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, and Palestinian health officials said 16 people were killed, according to Reuters.

There was no word from the church on a death toll.

The Orthodox Church said in a statement: “The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem expresses its strongest condemnation of the Israeli air strike that has struck its church compound in the city of Gaza.”

The Gaza health ministry said in a statement that 16 Palestinian Christians were killed in the incident.

The Israeli military said its fighter jets had hit a nearby command and control centre that was used to carry out attacks against Israel. “As a result of the IDF strike, a wall of a church in the area was damaged. We are aware of reports on casualties. The incident is under review,” it said.