by & nbspemma de ruiter & nbspwith & nbspAP
It’s published
•update
At least two people have been killed and several others have been injured after the Holy Family Church in northern Gaza hit an Israeli strike Thursday morning, according to Catholic Church officials.
Two people in serious condition were later injured, the Latin patriarchy of Jerusalem told Euroneus.
“In deep sadness, the Latin patriarchy can confirm that two people were killed this morning as a result of a clear strike by the Israeli forces,” said the seat of the Latin patriarch in Jerusalem.
“We pray for the rest of their souls and for the end of this wild war. We cannot justify the targeting of innocent civilians,” he added.
Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the two victims were 60-year-old custodians of the parish, and the 84-year-old woman received psychosocial support within the church’s compound caritastent.
The church in Deir Al was protecting civilians, including many children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of the Al-Ahli hospital who was injured.
Other injured included one child with disabilities, two women and an elderly person, Naem said.
Among the injured was Father Gabriel Romanelli, a parish priest known for his daily conversations with the late Pope Francis.
During the last 18 months of his life, Pope Francis called Romanelli to call Romanelli to see how shelter in the church deals with war.
The only Catholic church building on the strip was damaged in the attack, officials said in what witnesses said were gunfires at Israeli tanks.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has denounced Israel for the strike. “The attacks on civilians that Israel has demonstrated for months are unacceptable. Military actions cannot justify such an attitude,” Meloni said.
The Israeli military said it was aware of the damage caused to the church and was investigating it.
The Israeli military said “we will make every possible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and we will regret the damage caused to them.” Israel accused Hamas militants of operating from private regions.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has issued a formal apology for the strike. “Israel expresses his deep sadness towards the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and his civilian victims,” the ministry said in a social media post.
About 1,000 Christians live in Gaza, according to the 2024 US State Department’s International Religious Freedom Report. The majority of Palestinian Christians are Eastern Orthodox, but are also loyal to other Christian denominations, such as Catholics, according to the report.
Separately, another person was killed and 17 people were injured on Thursday, and 17 were injured in a strike that struck two schools protecting displaced people in the Al Bulay refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Al Auda Hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike.
The strike comes as Israel and Hamas continue to talk about the Gaza ceasefire, but little progress is made.
Indirect negotiations in Qatar between Israel and Hamas have stagnated after a 21-month war on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and accelerating 251 people.
Fifty hostages are still in detention, but less than half of them are thought to be alive.
Israel’s subsequent attacks resulted in the deaths of more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry of Gaza.
