Gaza Church Strike Kills Three, Pope Responds

Gaza Church Strike Kills Three, Pope Responds \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ An Israeli shell struck Gaza’s only Catholic church, killing three and injuring ten, including the priest. The Holy Family Church was sheltering hundreds of displaced civilians when hit amid ongoing fighting. President Trump and Pope Leo XIV both called for peace and accountability in response to the strike.

Quick Looks

• Israeli shell hit Gaza’s Holy Family Catholic Church.
• Three killed, 10 injured, including Father Gabriel Romanelli.
• Church was sheltering hundreds of civilians, including disabled children.
• Pope Leo XIV demanded ceasefire, urged peace and reconciliation.
• President Trump criticized Netanyahu, expressing outrage at the strike.
• Israel labeled incident accidental and is investigating.
• Caritas and Orthodox groups condemned the attack.
• The church is near the frequently bombed Al-Ahli Hospital.
• Strike follows a pattern of civilian structures being targeted.
• Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas remain stalled.
• Gaza Health Ministry: 94 killed in 24 hours.
• Over 58,600 Palestinians killed since October, many civilians.

Deep Look

In a tragic escalation of the 21-month-long Israel-Hamas conflict, an Israeli shell struck Gaza’s only Catholic church — the Holy Family Church — on Thursday, killing three people and injuring ten others, including the church’s parish priest, Rev. Gabriel Romanelli. The church compound, which had been serving as a shelter for hundreds of displaced Palestinians, including children and individuals with disabilities, suffered extensive damage.

Church officials, humanitarian organizations, and political leaders reacted swiftly to condemn the strike. Among the dead were a 60-year-old church janitor and an 84-year-old woman who had been receiving psychosocial support in a Caritas Jerusalem tent within the compound. Rev. Romanelli was treated for light injuries, according to hospital reports.

Eyewitnesses and survivors painted a harrowing picture. “We were struck in the church while all the people there were elders, innocent people, and children,” said Shady Abu Dawood, whose mother sustained a head injury from the explosion. “We love peace and call for it, and this is a brutal, unjustified action by the Israeli occupation.”

The Israeli military acknowledged the strike, saying a preliminary review indicated that fragments from a shell fired during “operational activity” in the area unintentionally hit the church. The IDF emphasized that it targets only militants, seeks to avoid harm to civilians and religious sites, and “regrets any unintentional damage.”

Pope Leo XIV, who succeeded the late Pope Francis after his death in April, issued a heartfelt telegram expressing sorrow and urging peace. “His Holiness expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace in the region,” read the Vatican’s message. Pope Francis, in the final months of his life, had often spoken with Rev. Romanelli and had been deeply concerned with Gaza’s humanitarian plight.

President Donald Trump also weighed in, calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express frustration and demand accountability. In response, Netanyahu issued a public statement expressing “deep regret” over what Israel described as an unfortunate accident.

This strike is not an isolated incident. Gaza’s Al-Ahli Hospital, located just meters from the church, has been bombarded repeatedly over the past week. In a separate incident on the same day, one person was killed and 17 others wounded when Israeli shells hit two schools used as shelters in the Al-Bureij refugee camp. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on that incident.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the targeting of the church, which had been sheltering 600 displaced people, including 54 individuals with disabilities. “Targeting a holy site is a blatant affront to human dignity,” the Patriarchate declared. It called the strike a grave violation of the sanctity of life and of the role religious structures play as sanctuaries during war.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported 94 deaths and 367 injuries in the past 24 hours alone. Since Israel’s response to the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack, the ministry estimates more than 58,600 Palestinians have been killed. The ministry, although operating under Hamas governance, is staffed by medical professionals and its figures are widely cited by international bodies including the United Nations.

Only around 1,000 Christians remain in the Gaza Strip, most of them Greek Orthodox. As the Holy Land’s Christian population continues to dwindle, recent years have seen growing concern over increased attacks by Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists on Christian clergy and properties in both the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The Holy Family Church tragedy underscores the broader toll of the conflict, as ceasefire negotiations remain stalled. While indirect talks continue between Israel and Hamas, breakthroughs have been scarce since Israel ended a previous truce in March. An Israeli official indicated some flexibility around contentious issues, including the military’s use of security corridors such as the Morag Corridor in southern Gaza. However, major sticking points persist, particularly regarding prisoner swaps and an agreement to halt hostilities.

The October 7 Hamas assault killed 1,200 people and abducted 251, of whom 50 remain hostages — with fewer than half believed to be alive. Israel’s response has leveled neighborhoods, hit countless civilian structures, and fueled international condemnation amid growing calls for accountability.

With the shelling of Gaza’s only Catholic church, the war has reached yet another painful milestone, sending shockwaves through religious communities and international observers alike. As global leaders urge restraint, the people of Gaza — both Muslims and Christians — continue to endure immense suffering with no clear end in sight.

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