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An Israeli airstrike on Gaza's sole Catholic Church resulted in the deaths of two individuals on Thursday, as reported by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Israel, which claimed to "never target" places of worship, expressed regret for any civilian casualties.
Pope Leo XIV expressed his "deep sadness" regarding the incident, coinciding with reports from Gaza's civil defense agency indicating that Israeli attacks throughout the Palestinian territories had led to at least 20 fatalities.
The Latin Patriarchate confirmed the deaths of two members of the Christian community due to what appeared to be an Israeli military strike that hit the Holy Family Compound.
In a statement, they expressed their sorrow, affirming, "We pray for the departed souls and for the cessation of this barbaric war. Nothing can justify harming innocent civilians."
Gaza civil defense spokesperson Mahmud Bassal noted that the victims were from the Christian community in Gaza City, a church with which the late Pope Francis maintained regular communication during the conflict.
In photos from AFP, injured individuals were seen receiving treatment in a tented area at Al-Ahli Hospital, also referred to as Baptist Hospital, with Father Gabriel Romanelli attending to the wounded, his lower leg bandaged.
The Patriarchate, responsible for Catholics in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, and Cyprus, condemned the strike, indicating that it "damaged significant portions of the complex."
They argued that targeting a holy site currently sheltering around 600 displaced individuals, primarily children and 54 with special needs, constitutes a gross violation of human dignity and the sanctity of life and religious sites, which are meant to serve as safe havens during wartime.
Israel responded by expressing "deep sorrow" over the incident and civilian losses, stating the military would conduct an inquiry. The Foreign Ministry noted on X that "Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any damage to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the attacks on civilians in Gaza as "unacceptable," while her Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, labeled the church attack "a serious act against a Christian place of worship."
Among Gaza's more than two million inhabitants, about 1,000 are Christians. Most belong to the Orthodox community, but the Latin Patriarchate estimates around 135 Catholics reside there. Since the war began in October 2023, many members of the Catholic community have taken refuge in the Holy Family Compound, with some Orthodox Christians also finding shelter there.
Pope Francis repeatedly advocated for an end to the conflict and, in his last Easter message before his death on April 21, condemned the "deplorable humanitarian situation" in the Palestinian territories.
Monsignor Pascal Gollnisch, head of the Catholic charity l’Oeuvre d’Orient, denounced the attack as "totally unacceptable," asserting it violated the sanctity of a place of worship that is recognized for its commitment to peace and serving the population.
He emphasized that there were no strategic targets or jihadists present, only families and civilians, and condemned Israel's actions in the strongest terms.
The ongoing conflict, which has persisted for over 21 months, has created dire humanitarian conditions for the people of Gaza, displacing many residents multiple times and causing significant shortages of food and essentials.
The war began following a Hamas attack on Israel, which led to the deaths of 1,219 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
In retaliation, Israeli military actions have resulted in at least 58,573 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Due to media restrictions and limited access to many areas, AFP is unable to independently verify the casualty figures and details reported by civil defense and other agencies.
