On Thursday, a shell hit the Holy Family Catholic Church compound in Gaza City, resulting in multiple casualties.
According to church officials, this compound is the only Catholic church in Gaza and had been sheltering civilians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, told reporters that the facility received casualties from the church, confirming that both Christians and Muslims had been taking refuge there, including children with disabilities.
Caritas Jerusalem, a Catholic humanitarian organization, stated that two individuals were killed in the strike: a 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman who had been receiving psychosocial care inside a tent on the compound grounds. Caritas also reported that the parish priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, sustained light injuries.
Shady Abu Dawood, whose mother was wounded in the strike, told the press that the people in the church were “elders, innocent people, and children,” and described the incident as “a brutal, unjustified action by the Israeli occupation.”
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees Catholic institutions in the region, confirmed the deaths and stated that the church had been sheltering approximately 600 displaced persons, including 54 individuals with special needs. The Patriarchate condemned the strike and described it as “a flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sites.”
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which also maintains a church in Gaza, said the building sustained “significant damage” and condemned the incident in similar terms. It emphasized that churches and other holy sites should remain protected zones during times of war.
In a telegram of condolence, Pope Leo XIV said he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack.” He also expressed his support for Fr. Romanelli and the affected community. According to parish members, the late Pope Francis had regularly contacted Fr. Romanelli during the conflict, reportedly calling him at 7:00 PM each evening for updates and solidarity.
Gaza civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal also confirmed that two members of the Christian community were killed in the strike, while reporting that Israeli strikes across Gaza that day resulted in at least 20 deaths.
According to a statement from the White House, former U.S. President Donald Trump personally contacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after being briefed on the incident. A White House spokesperson said, “It was not a positive reaction. He called Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning to address the strikes on that church in Gaza.”
The spokesperson added that Netanyahu acknowledged the strike was a mistake, telling Trump it was unintentional and that Israel would issue a statement on the matter. A separate statement from the U.S. State Department confirmed the President’s dissatisfaction, with a spokeswoman noting, “I think it’s an understatement to say that he [Trump] was not happy.” The U.S. also reportedly urged Israel to conduct a full investigation.
The Israeli military has since released a statement saying it is investigating the incident and that it “makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites.” It also added that it “regrets any damage caused to them.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted on social media that Israel “expresses deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty.”
