Israel has expressed deep regret over a military strike that hit Gaza’s only Catholic church, resulting in the deaths of three civilians and injuring at least ten more. The incident, which occurred at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, has drawn condemnation from religious leaders, foreign governments, and the United Nations, while the Israeli government has insisted that the strike was a tragic mistake currently under investigation.
Israel Acknowledges Error in Gaza Church Strike, Expresses Deep Regret
On Thursday, Israeli military forces struck the Holy Family Church, Gaza’s sole Catholic house of worship, killing three civilians and wounding at least ten others, according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and multiple international news agencies.
As reported by Reuters, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement,
“Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza’s Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful”.
The Prime Minister’s Office emphasised Israel’s commitment to thoroughly investigating the incident and to safeguarding both civilians and religious sites.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), in a statement attributed to senior spokespersons and widely cited by the BBC, further clarified,
“The IDF targets only military objectives and strives to minimise harm to civilians and religious sites, expressing regret for any unintended damage”.
An initial IDF investigation suggested that shrapnel from a tank shell fired during operational activity in the area had mistakenly hit the church.
Details of the Attack
According to Al Jazeera, the incident occurred as hundreds of Palestinians, including many displaced families, sheltered within the church compound seeking safety from ongoing hostilities. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed that among the deceased was a 60-year-old janitor and two others who had been providing humanitarian aid inside the church grounds.
The Parish Priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was among those wounded. As documented by Sky News, Father Romanelli, an Argentinian, was lightly injured and transported to hospital, appearing with a bandaged right leg.
Survivor Accounts and Footage
Al Jazeera broadcast verified footage showing a shaken Father Romanelli following the attack. The video and eyewitness accounts corroborated that the church was struck just after 10:30 am, with several of the wounded described as being in critical condition.
International and Religious Leaders
Pope Leo XIV issued a telegram via the Vatican, expressing his “deep sorrow” and reiterating his call for an immediate ceasefire, stating,
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack. My profound hope is for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region”.
The late Pope Francis, who was in regular contact with Father Romanelli, was also mentioned in responses from several Vatican officials.
The United Nations has also weighed in. Stephanie Tremblay, associate spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres, told reporters,
“Attacks on places of worship are unacceptable. People seeking shelter must be respected and protected, not hit by strikes”.
The UN reiterated calls for all parties to ensure the protection of civilians and for humanitarian aid to have safe passage into Gaza.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni explicitly placed blame on Israel, stating, as reported by CBS News,
“No military action can justify such behaviour. The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable”.
Statements from Israel
As noted by Axios and CNN, Israel’s statement acknowledging responsibility followed direct diplomatic pressure. The White House confirmed that US President Donald Trump was “not positive” in his reaction to the church strike, which prompted a call with Prime Minister Netanyahu and, soon after, the public statement of regret.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry further stated,
“Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians. The result of the IDF’s investigation will be published transparently”.
Palestinian and Human Rights Voices
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem denounced the strike:
“This dreadful conflict must cease entirely,”
their statement read, adding,
“The individuals within the Holy Family Compound sought refuge in the Church, hoping to escape the horrors of war, having already lost their homes, belongings, and dignity”.
Hamas condemned the attack as
“another crime against places of worship and innocent displaced individuals,”
claiming it forms part of a broader campaign of extermination against the Palestinian people.
The United Nations’ Independent International Commission of Inquiry reported last month that Israel has destroyed over a quarter of all religious and cultural sites and more than 90 per cent of educational institutions in Gaza since the conflict began.
How Is Israel Explaining the Incident?
The IDF has attributed the strike to shrapnel from an Israeli tank shell, inadvertently impacting the church. The military claims operational activities were taking place nearby when the church was struck and restated its policy of not targeting religious structures.
Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Prime Minister’s Office both underlined that an investigation is ongoing, and the findings will be publicised. Israel insists that
“every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures”
was being made, yet international scrutiny remains intense.
The Role of the Holy Family Church
Gaza’s Holy Family Church, the only Catholic sanctuary in the region, is a longstanding refuge for Gaza’s Christian minority, estimated at just over 1,100 by a 2024 US State Department report. Throughout the ongoing conflict, the church compound had become a haven for both Christians and Muslims, many of them children and people with disabilities displaced by war.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the church’s administrative authority, stated,
“Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians. We pray for the repose of their souls and for an end to this brutal conflict”.
Escalation and International Backlash
The church strike is only the latest in a series of attacks that have hit religious and civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Medical personnel quoted by Al Jazeera confirmed that Israel’s strikes across the territory that Thursday resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people in Gaza City on the same day as the church attack.
Pope Leo, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and other world leaders have reiterated calls for a ceasefire and a renewal of peace talks, as frustrations mount over ongoing civilian casualties and damage to essential facilities.
What Have Eyewitnesses and Aid Agencies Reported?
Following the attack, medical sources and aid organisations such as Caritas Jerusalem confirmed fatalities included a mental health worker present in the church tent and the janitor, among others. CBS News reported that some 500 displaced Christians had been sheltering at the church, with the rest including Muslims and children with disabilities.
What Happens Next?
Israel’s investigation into the incident is ongoing, and its outcome is being closely watched by international observers and NGOs. The Foreign Ministry has pledged transparent reporting of their findings and reasserted that Israel does not target religious sites intentionally.
Meanwhile, religious leaders, governmental bodies, and humanitarian agencies continue to call for immediate humanitarian relief, protection for places of worship, and a durable ceasefire to halt the cycle of violence that has devastated communities across Gaza.