Airstrike in Gaza results in the death of two individuals and wounds a Catholic church priest who had frequent conversations with the Pope
In a tragic turn of events, the Holy Family Church in Gaza City was struck by shrapnel from an Israeli tank shell during military operations on the morning of July 17, 2025. The incident resulted in at least two fatalities and several injuries, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who was known for his daily contact with Pope Francis.
The victims included the parish janitor and an elderly woman receiving psychosocial support at the church compound, which was also sheltering vulnerable civilians such as children with disabilities. Witnesses reported that the church appeared to have been hit by Israeli tank shelling.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the cause of the strike was unintentional. According to their preliminary investigation, the fragments from the shell struck the church by mistake while the military was targeting operational objectives nearby. The IDF emphasised its commitment to direct strikes solely at military targets and making every effort to reduce harm to civilians and religious sites, expressing regret for the unintentional damage and casualties caused by the strike.
The incident drew international condemnation, including from Italy's prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, who called the attack on civilians “unacceptable.” The church's injury to Father Romanelli, noted for his close ties with Pope Francis, highlighted the human toll of the strike.
In the aftermath of the attack, at least 27 people were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Thursday. Four people were killed in an attack on a home close to the Imam al-Shafi'i school in Zeitoun, a district southeast of Gaza City.
The Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed the incident in a statement. Pope Leo XIV expressed sadness over the loss of life and injuries caused by the military attack and renewed his calls for an immediate ceasefire. Pope Francis, who was a strong advocate for ending the conflict in Gaza, implored Israel and Hamas to call for a ceasefire.
After Pope Francis's death, Fr Romanelli stated that he continued to receive calls from the late Pope as a way to express solidarity during the conflict. In his last public address on Easter Sunday, Pope Francis condemned the "deplorable humanitarian situation" in Gaza.
Footage from the hospital showed Fr Romanelli to be lightly injured, with a bandaged left leg but able to walk. At least two people were in a critical condition, Dr Naim said, and among the others injured were a child with disabilities, two women, and an elderly person.
The IDF is currently investigating the incident involving the Holy Family church in Gaza City. The Israeli Foreign Ministry will publish the results of the investigation into the Holy Family church incident. Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu expressed regret over the damage to Gaza's Holy Family Church.
The parish priest, Fr Gabriel Romanelli, was among those injured and had been receiving daily calls from the late Pope Francis. The church, which was sheltering Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Dr Fadel Naim, the acting director of al-Ahli Arab hospital, was the only Catholic church in Gaza.
The incident involving the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, which resulted in fatalities and injuries, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, was not just a local issue but garnered attention in the realm of general news, politics, and crime-and-justice, given its international condemnation and the church's significance as a shelter for vulnerable civilians. The Israeli Defense Forces, recognizing the unintentional nature of the attack, emphasized their commitment to minimizing harm to civilians and religious sites, but the ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip have continued to lead to war-and-conflicts causalities and destruction.
