3 killed in strike on the last Catholic church in Gaza; a friend of Pope Francis is among the injured
Three people were killed and at least nine injured, including a parish priest who was a close friend of the late Francis, in an Israeli attack on the Catholic Church in Gaza, said the Latin patriarchy of Jerusalem on Thursday.
The church of the Holy Family of Gaza City “was struck by the Israeli army,” the patriarchy said in a statement, adding that he strongly condemned “this targeting of innocent civilians and a sacred place”.
“Three individuals lost their lives due to injuries suffered and nine others were injured, including one in critical condition and two in serious condition,” the statement said.
The parish priest, the Reverend Gabriel Romanelli, “suffered light injuries,” said the patriarchy. Romanelli spent night calls with Francis throughout the war in Gaza, and the late pontiff took the time to speak with the priest and his parish even though his health failed in the weeks preceding his death in April.
The Jerusalem branch of the Vatican Caritas Charitable Federation has appointed two of the people killed like Saad Salameh, 60, and Fumayya Ayyad, 84, in a separate declaration.
Salameh was the church concierge, while Ayyad was seated in a caritas psychosocial support tent when an explosion sent “bursts of shells and debris in the region,” the statement said.
Pope Leo XIV, a successor of Francis, was “deeply saddened” by “the military attack”, the Vatican said in a statement. This added that Leo renewed his calls to an “immediate ceasefire”.
The pontiff maintains the position of his predecessor on the franc to ask for the end of the war in Gaza.
The video shared by the church with NBC News has shown damage to its roof and a window.
“The people of the Holy Family complex are people who have found in the church a sanctuary – hoping that the horrors of the war could at least save their lives, after their house, their property and their dignity had already been withdrawn,” said the patriarchy in his declaration.
The patriarchy did not provide more information on the attack or which, according to her, was responsible, saying that he would publish other details once confirmed.
Witnesses said the attack seemed to be a bombing of Israeli tanks, the Associated Press reported.
Israeli defense forces said that it was aware of the victims and damaged relationships caused to the Holy Family Church and said that “the circumstances of the incident were under study”.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel expressed “deep pain in the damage to the Church of the Holy Family” and “on any civilian victim”. He noted in an article on X that an investigation was underway.
