Inquiries regarding the Christian community in Gaza
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, a significant development has taken place. The Holy Family Catholic parish in Gaza City, serving as a refuge for hundreds of displaced civilians, was severely damaged by an Israeli military strike on July 17, 2025. The attack resulted in three civilian deaths and several injuries, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who sustained a light leg injury. Despite his injury, Father Romanelli returned to support the faithful and continue providing shelter, medicine, and support to the thousands seeking aid outside the church compound [1][2][5].
This attack occurred amidst a broader context of military conflict, which has displaced over 737,000 people since March 2025, representing about 35% of the population in Gaza. The strike on the church has drawn widespread condemnation, including from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who called the attack unacceptable, emphasizing that places of worship and civilians seeking refuge must be protected and spared from hostilities [3].
While the specific military plan by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not explicitly detailed in these sources in relation to this strike, it is part of the ongoing Israeli campaign in Gaza that has caused significant harm to civilian infrastructure and displaced populations. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged the attack under review and stated efforts to minimize harm to civilians and civilian structures amid ongoing operations in Gaza [1][3][5].
The conflict has claimed 1,219 lives on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, and approximately 61,258 lives in Gaza, according to the Hamas health ministry reports [4]. The UN considers these reports to be reliable. Meanwhile, hundreds of people have sought refuge in the Holy Family Catholic parish, currently housing around 600 people, including disabled children [6].
The Security Cabinet in Israel has approved five principles for ending the war, including disarming Hamas, returning all hostages alive and dead, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, maintaining Israeli security control, and establishing an alternative civilian administration [7]. However, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have threatened that "escalation will not be a walk in the park and will come at a high and painful cost for Israel" [8].
The UN is warning of a "general famine" in Gaza due to insufficient humanitarian aid distribution. Control procedures at the crossings in Gaza are slowing down the transport of aid goods, with only 70-80 trucks of certain goods being transported daily, while at least 600 aid trucks are needed [9].
In response to the proposed military plan by Netanyahu, opposition leader Yair Lapid has condemned it as a "catastrophe" that could lead to many more catastrophes, resulting in the deaths of hostages and many soldiers, costing Israeli taxpayers tens of billions, and leading to diplomatic bankruptcy [10]. Hamas still holds 49 hostages, of whom 27 are presumed dead [11].
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Israel intends to take control of Gaza but does not want to "rule" or "keep" it, instead planning to hand over responsibility to Arab forces [12]. The Forum of Families, an organization of Israeli hostages' relatives, has criticized the cabinet's decision, claiming it ignores repeated military warnings and the will of the majority of the Israeli public.
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/18/israeli-military-strike-hits-gaza-church-killing-three-people [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59010018 [3] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-guterres-condemns-israeli-attack-gaza-church-2025-07-18/ [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-conflict-hamas-reports-61258-lives-lost-gaza-2025-08-01/ [5] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/19/israel-gaza-conflict-un-condemns-attack-on-gaza-church [6] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-59010018 [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-conflict-security-cabinet-approves-five-principles-ending-war-2025-08-01/ [8] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-islamic-jihad-threaten-high-painful-cost-israel-over-gaza-escalation-2025-08-02/ [9] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/3/un-warns-of-general-famine-in-gaza-due-to-insufficient-aid [10] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-opposition-leader-yair-lapid-condemns-netanyahus-military-plan-gaza-2025-08-04/ [11] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-conflict-hamas-still-holds-49-hostages-27-presumed-dead-2025-08-05/ [12] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-gaza-netanyahu-says-israel-will-take-control-gaza-but-not-rule-or-keep-it-2025-08-06/
The attack on the Holy Family Catholic parish in Gaza City, serving as a refuge for hundreds of displaced civilians, has sparked political debate and general news discussions, given its occurrence amidst war-and-conflicts in the Gaza Strip. The attack's consequences have amplified concerns about the protection of civilians and places of worship during military operations, especially as the UN and international leaders have condemned the incident.
