Israeli Shell Hits Gaza's Holy Family Catholic Church, Two Killed

Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip), Jul 17 (AP) An Israeli shell hit the compound of Gaza's sole Catholic church on Thursday, killing two individuals and injuring several more, reported witnesses and church officials. Among the injured was the parish priest, a close friend of Pope Francis during the late pontiff's final months. The shelling caused damage to the Holy Family Catholic Church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians had found refuge from the ongoing conflict. Pope Leo XIV on Thursday reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza following the attack.

In a condolence message sent by Vatican's second-in-command, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo expressed “profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace in the region.” The pope was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack,” and he conveyed his sympathy to the local parish priest, Rev. Gabriele Romanelli, and the entire parish community. Romanelli shared a strong bond with the late Pope Francis.

The church compound was sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem from Al-Ahli Hospital, where the casualties were taken. Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem reported that a 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support were killed. Parish priest Romanelli sustained mild injuries. The Israeli military acknowledged awareness of the damage to the church and stated an investigation is underway. Israel stressed its commitment to minimizing civilian harm and damage to religious sites.

In a unique move, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued an apology via social media, expressing “deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City” and civilian casualties. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni criticized Israel for the strike, stating that ongoing attacks on civilians are “unacceptable.” The church is located close to Al-Ahli Hospital, both of which have been repeatedly targeted, said Naem.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, overseeing another church previously damaged by Israeli strikes, confirmed that the Holy Family Church was sheltering 600 displaced people, highlighting significant damage to the building. They condemned the targeting of a holy site, calling it “a blatant affront to human dignity.” In a separate incident, a strike on Al-Bureij refugee camp schools resulted in one death and 17 injured, according to Al-Awda Hospital.

Pope Francis frequently communicated with the Gaza church throughout the war, calling almost daily to check on those seeking shelter there. In a previous interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” he mentioned his daily calls to the church at 7 pm. Gaza’s Christian community is small, with approximately 1,000 remaining in the predominantly Muslim region, according to a 2024 U.S. State Department report.

Israel and Hamas continue to engage in ceasefire negotiations, though substantial progress remains elusive. An Israeli official indicated “flexibility” on particular issues, including the Israeli presence in certain security corridors. Discussions on the Morag Corridor show signs of compromise, yet important topics like prisoner release and war termination commitments remain.

Conflict began with Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 deaths, primarily civilians, and 251 kidnappings. Most hostages have since been released. Israel's retaliatory actions have led to over 58,000 Palestinian deaths, with women and children comprising a significant portion. The figures are verified by international organizations as reliable. (AP) NPK NPK

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