Airstrike in Gaza targets Catholic church by Israeli forces
The Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City was hit by an Israeli strike on July 17, 2025, resulting in injuries and damage. The incident occurred around 10:30 AM without warning, causing a stir both locally and internationally.
The attack left two people dead and ten others injured, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Two women who were initially thought to be dead were successfully revived and are now in the hospital in critical condition. The majority of the approximately 650 remaining Christians in Gaza were seeking shelter in the church at the time of the attack.
The exact reason why the church was struck has not been definitively confirmed. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stated they are aware of reports regarding damage and casualties at the church and that the circumstances of the incident are under review. The IDF emphasized that they do not target religious institutions intentionally, take many precautions to avoid harming civilians or holy sites, and regret any damage caused to such sites.
The attack drew international condemnation. The Latin Patriarchate described the strike as "barbaric" and unjustifiable, praying for an end to the war and for innocent civilians to be spared further harm. Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sadness over the loss of life and injuries, renewing his call for an immediate ceasefire and peace in the region. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack on the church and criticized the ongoing Israeli raids on Gaza as unacceptable, stating that no military action can justify targeting civilians or religious sites.
Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Israel has been conducting large-scale military operations in the Gaza Strip, resulting in approximately 1210 deaths and around 250 abductions. According to Hamas authorities, more than 58,000 people have been killed so far in the conflict. The Palestinian news agency Wafa also reported further Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, some of which have been fatal, since the morning.
The parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was injured during the attack. The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that displaced people are housed in the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City. A photo published by the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem shows damage to the roof of the church.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the circumstances of the incident are still unclear. The attack on the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City has brought renewed calls for a ceasefire and protection of civilians and religious sites.
- The European Union, the European Parliament, the Council, and the Commission expressed their concern over the attack on the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, calling for a thorough investigation and an end to the escalating conflict in general-news politics.
- In the wake of the attack on the Catholic Church of the Holy Family, crime-and-justice authorities have been urged to take further measures to ensure the protection of religious institutions and civilian populations during the ongoing dispute between Israel and the Palestinians.
