JERUSALEM (BN24) — Israel has issued an uncommon public apology after a military strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church killed three people, injured ten others, and left the historic building heavily damaged. The announcement, which came Thursday, followed a call from President Donald Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding clarification over the deadly incident.
The strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City occurred Thursday morning as hundreds of Palestinians, including members of the enclave’s small Christian minority, sheltered inside. The church had served as a rare sanctuary amid the ongoing war, continuing to hold mass and offer refuge even as fighting devastated surrounding neighborhoods.
In an uncharacteristically swift response, the Israeli government admitted responsibility and expressed sorrow, stating: “Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza’s Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful. We are grateful to Pope Leo for his words of comfort. Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites.”
The statement came after Trump, reportedly outraged by news of the attack, demanded answers from Netanyahu during a phone call. According to a senior U.S. official who spoke to Axios, Trump insisted the Israeli leader publicly acknowledge the strike was a mistake. Netanyahu complied shortly afterward.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump’s reaction to the church strike was “not a positive reaction,” highlighting the U.S. president’s growing impatience with Israel’s conduct in Gaza.
Holy Family Church, one of the oldest and most significant Christian sites in the Gaza Strip, suffered serious structural damage when its roof was hit. While Israel’s initial assessment cited stray shrapnel as the likely cause, church officials have accused the Israeli military of directly targeting the building. “We are not sure about this,” said Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. “They hit the church directly.”
Among the injured was parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli, who had received nightly phone calls from the late Pope Francis during earlier stages of the war. The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and once again urged for an immediate ceasefire.
The incident marks a rare moment of Israeli contrition in the Gaza conflict, particularly so soon after a strike. It also reflects the weight of Trump’s influence in pressing for accountability — an influence that appears to be prompting swifter responses from the Netanyahu government.
The Holy Family Church tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of devastation in Gaza, where more than 58,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. A January report by the United Nations estimated that 70% of buildings in the territory had been damaged or destroyed.
Axios.com
