An Israeli airstrike on the Holy Family Catholic Church the only Catholic church in Gaza killed two people on Thursday, sparking global outrage and condemnation from religious and political leaders.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed the casualties, describing the incident as a “direct hit” on the Holy Family Compound, which was sheltering hundreds of displaced civilians, including children and people with special needs. “We mourn the loss of two innocent lives and call for an end to this barbaric war. No justification exists for targeting civilians,” the Patriarchate said.
Gaza’s civil defence spokesperson, Mahmud Bassal, said the victims were members of the local Christian community. Photographs from AFP showed the wounded being treated at Gaza City’s Al-Ahli Hospital, including parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli, who had sustained leg injuries.
The Patriarchate reported that the attack destroyed a large portion of the church complex, calling it a “gross violation of human dignity” and a breach of the sanctity of religious sites meant to provide refuge during conflict.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep regret” over the incident, stating that its military does not intentionally target religious sites and that an investigation is underway.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack on civilians as “unacceptable,” while Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the strike as a “serious act against a place of Christian worship.”
The Gaza Strip, home to over two million people, has a Christian population of about 1,000—mostly Orthodox, with around 135 Catholics according to the Latin Patriarchate. Many had sought shelter at the Holy Family Compound since the war began in October 2023.
Pope Francis, who had maintained communication with the Gaza Catholic community throughout the war, had frequently called for peace. In his final Easter message before his death in April 2024, he decried the “deplorable humanitarian situation” in Gaza.
Monsignor Pascal Gollnisch, head of the Catholic charity l’Oeuvre d’Orient, condemned the strike, calling it “totally unacceptable.” He emphasized that the church had no military significance and was simply housing civilians. “These were families, not fighters. Israel’s actions cannot be excused,” he said.
The ongoing conflict, sparked by a Hamas attack in October 2023 that killed over 1,200 people in Israel, has since led to Israel’s retaliatory campaign in Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 58,000 Palestinians—mostly civilians—have been killed so far. The numbers have not been independently verified due to restricted access to affected areas.
AFP