Three individuals perish following an Israeli assault on the Catholic church, the sole one in the Gaza Strip - Israeli airstrike targets and damages Gaza's solitary Catholic place of worship, resulting in three fatalities
In the midst of ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, an unfortunate incident has taken place. On July 17, 2025, a tragic strike on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza resulted in the loss of at least two to three lives and injured several others, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli [1][3][5].
The church, which is the only Catholic place of worship in Gaza, had been sheltering hundreds of displaced people [1][4]. Among the victims were the parish janitor and an elderly woman receiving psychosocial support inside the church compound. Father Romanelli, who is known for his close engagement with the late Pope Francis, was also injured in the attack [1][4].
Following the incident, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a formal apology, describing it as a mistake and emphasizing Israel’s respect for places of worship. The Israeli Defense Forces expressed regret for the damage and casualties caused, and confirmed that the circumstances of the incident are currently under review [1][2][4].
The church compound, which comprises two churches and a school, had been providing shelter to vulnerable civilians, including children with disabilities and the elderly. The Latin Patriarchate, which oversees the Catholic Church in the Gaza Strip, has condemned the attack, stating that the church had been housing around 600 displaced persons, mainly children [1][4].
The attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church has drawn international condemnation. Pope Leo XIV, who has expressed profound sadness over the loss of life and the attack on the church, called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. France, which has been the protector of Catholic communities in the Middle East since a 16th-century agreement, has described the attack as "unacceptable" and called for the conflict to end [1][2][4].
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot of France has also called for an end to the massacre in Gaza, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has condemned the attack. The ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip, which began in response to a large-scale attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, have resulted in significant civilian casualties, with more than 1210 people reportedly killed and over 251 taken hostage according to Israeli reports [1][4].
However, concerns remain given the history of attacks on places of worship in Gaza and the ongoing conflict's devastating toll on civilians. Prior incidents involving churches have not led to conclusive outcomes, fostering skepticism about the effectiveness of the ongoing investigation [4].
As the Israeli Army continues its investigation into the strike, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution that brings an end to the violence and protects the lives and safety of all civilians in the Gaza Strip.
- The tragic attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries, has generated intense political discourse, with Pope Leo XIV calling for an immediate ceasefire and France condemning the incident as unacceptable, amidst ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region.
- As diplomatic maneuvers ensue following the strike on the only Catholic church in Gaza, concerns about the safety of civilians, including children with disabilities and the elderly, remain high in the midst of general news surrounding the ongoing conflict and the Israeli military operations against Hamas.
