A recent strike on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City has resulted in multiple injuries, as the local Catholic community continues to face dire consequences from the ongoing conflict. Christian leaders decry the attack while Israeli forces confirm their investigation into the incident.
Casualties Reported as Gaza Church Struck by Shells amid Ongoing Conflict
Casualties Reported as Gaza Church Struck by Shells amid Ongoing Conflict
The Holy Family Church in Gaza City sustained damage from shelling, with injuries reported among those seeking refuge within its walls.
Several people were injured at the Holy Family Church located in Gaza City, where reports suggest the building was struck by Israeli artillery shells, though church leaders have referred to it merely as "struck by a raid." The incident comes amidst the backdrop of increasing hostilities, prompting Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to place blame on Israeli military operations. The Israeli military has acknowledged awareness of the reports regarding damage and casualties, indicating that they are assessing the circumstances surrounding the event.
The church has become a refuge for many displaced Christian families, who sought shelter there after losing their homes due to ongoing aerial assaults. The late Pope Francis had maintained regular contact with this beleaguered community, underscoring the church's importance as a sanctuary in troubled times. Among those injured during the strike was Argentine parish priest Father Gabriele Romanelli, with initial reports disproven that indicated fatalities. The Latin Patriarchate confirmed that significant damage occurred, as visuals broadcast by media outlets illustrated ruined roofs and shattered windows.
According to sources, Father Romanelli was seen being treated at Al-Ahli Hospital and checking on fellow victims. Prime Minister Meloni condemned the ongoing violence directed at civilians, stressing that such military actions are indefensible. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem echoed these sentiments, decrying the strike as a severe breach of human dignity and a violation of sacred spaces intended to shelter the vulnerable during conflicts.
Estimates indicate that around 600 displaced individuals were present in the church at the time, largely consisting of children and those with special needs. The area surrounding the Holy Family Church had been previously designated as unsafe by the Israeli military. Following the Hamas-led attacks earlier this month that resulted in significant loss of life, Israeli military actions have led to a staggering death toll exceeding 58,500 in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, a figure regarded by the UN as reliable for casualty statistics.
