GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (BN24) — A deadly Israeli strike hit the Holy Family Catholic Church compound in Gaza on Thursday, killing three people and injuring ten others, including the parish priest who had been in regular contact with the late Pope Francis. The shelling, which occurred amid intensifying military operations in the region, drew condemnation from religious leaders and deepened concerns about civilian safety as the Israel-Hamas war rages into its 21st month.
Church officials said the compound, which has served as a refuge for hundreds of displaced Palestinians — including Muslims, Christians, elderly residents, and disabled children — was hit by Israeli shell fragments during what the military described as “operational activity” in the area. Among the victims were a 60-year-old church janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support from Caritas Jerusalem. The church’s priest, Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, was lightly wounded.
The Israeli military issued a statement expressing regret and said an investigation was underway. It noted that the shell’s impact was unintended and stressed that the military does not target religious sites, asserting it “makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures.”
The late Pope Francis, who died in April, had frequently spoken by phone with Romanelli and voiced deep concern over the humanitarian cost of the conflict. In his memory, Pope Leo XIV condemned the church strike and renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire. “This is a grave violation of the sanctity of life and of religious sanctuaries,” he said in a message of condolence, adding that the attack underscores the urgent need for “dialogue, reconciliation, and lasting peace.”
President Donald Trump, who has publicly supported Israel throughout the war, called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express “frustration and disappointment” over the incident, the White House said. Netanyahu later issued a statement saying Israel “deeply regrets” the impact on Gaza’s lone Catholic parish.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack, describing it as “unacceptable,” and accused Israel of waging indiscriminate strikes on civilian populations for months.
The Holy Family Church compound, located near Al-Ahli Hospital, has been struck repeatedly over the past week, according to hospital officials. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which operates another church in Gaza that has previously sustained damage, said the Catholic compound was sheltering 600 people — including 54 with disabilities — when the strike occurred.
“The targeting of holy places violates the sanctity of life and the historical role of churches as safe havens in times of war,” the Patriarchate said in a statement.
In a separate incident, another Israeli strike hit two schools in the Al-Bureij refugee camp, killing one and wounding 17, according to Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military did not comment on that strike.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said hospitals had received the bodies of 94 people killed in Israeli attacks over the previous 24 hours, along with 367 wounded. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government but operated by medical professionals, is considered the most reliable source of casualty figures by the United Nations and other international agencies. According to its latest figures, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 58,600 Palestinians, with women and children making up more than half of the deaths. Israel does not distinguish between civilians and militants in its casualty assessments.
The conflict began after the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Israel has said 50 hostages remain in Gaza, fewer than half of whom are believed to be alive.
Ceasefire talks, brokered through international intermediaries, have made little visible progress in recent months. An Israeli official speaking anonymously said negotiators are showing “flexibility” on issues such as the military’s corridor presence in Gaza but acknowledged that major disputes remain, including the release of Palestinian prisoners and guarantees to end the war. A deal is not believed to be imminent.
For the roughly 1,000 Christians who remain in Gaza — most of them Greek Orthodox — the church strike is another blow to a dwindling and deeply traumatized community. Local leaders have long decried rising threats to Christian heritage and safety in the region, including settler violence and the erosion of religious freedoms.
