Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has released a statement following the attack on the only Catholic church in Gaza, which killed two people on Thursday morning.
The statement says: “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 Church of the Holy Family in Gaza was hit by the Israeli military on Thursday, in what Israel allegedly called “a shooting error.”
The IDF also said on Thursday: “An initial inquiry into reports regarding injured individuals in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City suggests that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly. The cause of the incident is under review.”
The statement also claimed: “The IDF directs its strikes solely at military targets and makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures, and regrets any unintentional damage caused to them.”
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem issued a statement confirming that several people were injured in the attack, including the parish priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli.
The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish’s 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were killed in the attack.
Two others were seriously injured, and four more sustained lesser injuries, including the priest.
Holy Family Catholic Church is the only Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip. Located in Gaza City, it operates under the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius is situated nearby.
The parish is led by Latin-rite priests, often Rosminian missionaries, and includes a school and a convent run by the Missionaries of Charity.
Holy Family has provided shelter to both Christians and Muslims living in Gaza since the beginning of the Israel–Hamas conflict, with hundreds seeking refuge within its compound.
The Gaza Ministry of Health (Hamas-run) reports that over 58,380 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel–Hamas conflict to date.
