Catholic authorities have accused Israeli forces of murdering two women who had been sheltering in a church in Gaza, Al Jazeera reports.

A mother and daughter were “shot in cold blood” by an Israeli sniper on Saturday as they were taking refuge in the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said.

“Nahida and her daughter Samar were shot and killed as they walked to the Sister’s Convent,” the patriarchate said in a statement.

“One was killed as she tried to carry the other to safety. Seven more people were shot and wounded as they tried to protect others inside the church compound. No warning was given, no notification was provided. They were shot in cold blood inside the premises of the Parish, where there are no belligerents.”

The Israeli military has yet to comment on the women’s deaths and did not immediately respond to an Al Jazeera emailed inquiry about the incident.