An Israeli strike hit the Church of the Holy Family, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, killing three people and injuring ten others while causing major damage to the religious building.
According to The Washington Post, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees Catholic affairs in the area, strongly criticized the attack. They said, “The Latin Patriarchate strongly condemns this tragedy and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place.”
The church’s priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was slightly hurt in the strike. Romanelli became well known during the Gaza war for his nightly phone calls with the late Pope Francis, who passed away in April. These calls, which sometimes went on for hours, involved Pope Francis asking about the church members and giving his blessings, bringing attention to the struggles of civilians in Gaza.
Mostafa Naim, the head of surgery at the nearby al-Ahly Hospital, named two of the dead as Foomya Ayad and Saad Eissa Salama. They were Orthodox Christians who had been staying at the church for safety. The patriarchate later confirmed a third death. One of the injured is in critical condition, and two others are seriously hurt.
Israel strikes have hit Christian places of worship, even those that a Pope loved
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, told Vatican News that a tank had fired directly at the church, adding, “the IDF says it was by mistake, but we are not sure about this.” Caritas, a Catholic charity providing mental health services at the church, reported that a shell hit the church’s roof around 10:10 a.m. local time, sending shrapnel flying and badly injuring two elderly women in a Caritas tent, along with others. Romanelli had earlier warned people sheltering there to stay inside, which may have prevented even more deaths.
Pope Leo XIV, who became pope on May 8, 2025, and is the first pope born in the United States, said the attack deeply saddened him. A statement from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, shared Pope Leo XIV’s support for Father Romanelli and the church community and repeated his demand for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
I raid israeliani su Gaza colpiscono anche la chiesa della Sacra Famiglia. Sono inaccettabili gli attacchi contro la popolazione civile che Israele sta portando avanti da mesi. Nessuna azione militare può giustificare un tale atteggiamento.
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) July 17, 2025
The strike also led to quick criticism from Italian leaders. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was one of the first to confirm the strike, saying, “The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such behavior.”
The Israel Defense Forces responded to reports of damage and casualties, saying, “The circumstances of the incident are under review. The IDF does everything possible to avoid harm to civilians and civilian buildings, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them.” An IDF spokesperson on X, Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani, wrote, “Respect for every faith and for places of worship is a key principle for the Israel Defense Forces, even during intense fighting.” Israel’s Foreign Ministry promised to share the results of the military’s investigation openly.
The Holy Family Church in Gaza City has been a gathering place for Gaza’s small Catholic community and a shelter for hundreds of Palestinian civilians, both Muslims and Christians, during the war. Around 450 displaced people were staying at the church when it was attacked.
