At least two women have been killed and many other people have been injured in an Israeli attack on the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza, the Palestinian news agency WAFA said.

Earlier, the Ministry of Interior in the Gaza Strip said there were a significant number of civilian casualties, both fatalities and injuries, resulting from a "new massacre" committed by the Israeli military against displaced people sheltering in the church.

"A new massacre committed by the ‘occupation’ against hundreds of displaced people inside the Orthodox Church in Gaza City, resulting in a large number of fatalities and injured," the ministry said in a brief statement on Telegram.

 The 12th century church of Saint Porphyrius is one of the oldest in the world.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem said targeting the church 'constitutes a war crime'.

The attack comes just days after an explosion at al-Ahli hospital which claimed the lives of around 500 people.

(some additional reporting by Premier journalist)