Israel Bombs Gaza’s Only Catholic Church, Killing At Least 3 And Wounding Parish Priest

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the one Catholic church in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing three individuals and wounding 10 others, together with the parish priest, based on church officers. The late Pope Francis, who died in April, had regularly spoken to the priest concerning the scenario within the war-ravaged territory.

The shelling of the Holy Household Catholic Church in Gaza additionally broken the church compound, the place lots of of Palestinians have been sheltering from the 21-month Israel-Hamas struggle. Israel issued a uncommon apology and mentioned it was investigating.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his name for an instantaneous ceasefire in response to the assault.

In a telegram of condolences for the victims, Leo expressed “his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace within the area.” The pope mentioned he was “deeply saddened to be taught of the lack of life and damage attributable to the navy assault,″ and expressed his closeness to the Rev. Gabriel Romanelli and all the parish.

The church compound was sheltering each Christians and Muslims, together with plenty of kids with disabilities, based on Fadel Naem, performing director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which obtained the casualties.

The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem mentioned the parish’s 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old girl receiving psychosocial assist inside a Caritas tent within the church compound have been killed within the assault. Parish priest Romanelli was flippantly wounded.

“We have been struck within the church whereas all of the individuals there have been elders, harmless individuals and youngsters,” mentioned Shady Abu Dawood, whose mom was wounded by shrapnel to her head. “We love peace and name for it, and it is a brutal, unjustified motion by the Israeli occupation.”

The Israeli navy mentioned it was investigating. It mentioned it “makes each possible effort to mitigate hurt to civilians and civilian buildings, together with spiritual websites, and regrets any injury triggered to them.”

In a uncommon transfer, the Israeli International Ministry posted an apology on social media. “Israel expresses deep sorrow over the injury to the Holy Household Church in Gaza Metropolis and over any civilian casualty,” it mentioned.

Israel has repeatedly struck colleges, shelters, hospitals and different civilian buildings, accusing Hamas militants of sheltering inside and blaming them for civilian deaths. Palestinians say nowhere has felt secure since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the strike on the church. “The assaults on the civilian inhabitants that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable,” she mentioned.

The church is only a stone’s throw from Al-Ahli Hospital, Naem mentioned, noting that the realm round each the church and the hospital has been repeatedly struck for over per week.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which additionally has a church in Gaza that previously sustained damage from Israeli strikes, mentioned the Holy Household Church was sheltering 600 displaced individuals, together with many kids, and 54 individuals with disabilities. It mentioned the constructing suffered important injury.

Focusing on a holy website “is a blatant affront to human dignity and a grave violation of the sanctity of life and the inviolability of non secular websites, which are supposed to function secure havens throughout instances of struggle,” the Church mentioned in an announcement.

Individually, one other particular person was killed and 17 wounded Thursday in a strike in opposition to two colleges sheltering displaced individuals within the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, based on Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli navy didn’t instantly touch upon the strike.

Within the final 18 months of his life, Francis would usually name the lone Catholic church within the Gaza Strip to see how individuals huddled inside have been dealing with a devastating struggle.

Francis had repeatedly criticized Israel’s wartime conduct, and final yr advised that allegations of genocide in Gaza — which Israel has rejected as a “blood libel” — needs to be investigated. The late pope additionally met with the households of Israeli hostages and known as for his or her launch.

Just one,000 Christians reside in Gaza, an overwhelmingly Muslim territory, based on the U.S. State Division’s worldwide spiritual freedom report for 2024. Most are Greek Orthodox.

The Holy Land’s Christian inhabitants has dwindled in current many years as many have emigrated to flee struggle and battle or to hunt higher alternatives overseas. Native Christian leaders have just lately denounced attacks by Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists.

There was little seen progress in months of oblique talks between Israel and Hamas aimed toward a brand new ceasefire and hostage launch settlement, after Israel ended an earlier truce in March.

Based on an Israeli official acquainted with the small print, Israel is exhibiting “flexibility” on a number of the points which have challenged negotiators, together with Israel’s presence in a number of the safety corridors the navy has carved into the territory.

The official, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of they have been discussing ongoing negotiations, mentioned Israel has proven some willingness to compromise on the Morag Hall, which cuts throughout southern Gaza. Nonetheless, different points stay, together with the record of Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel and commitments to finish the struggle.

The official says there are indicators of optimism however there received’t be a deal instantly.

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 individuals, principally civilians, within the Oct. 7 assault and kidnapped 251 individuals, most of whom have since been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers. Fifty hostages are nonetheless being held, lower than half of them believed to be alive

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 58,000 Palestinians, based on Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which has mentioned ladies and youngsters make up greater than half of the useless. It doesn’t distinguish between civilians and militants in its tally.

The ministry is a part of the Hamas-run authorities however is led by medical professionals. The United Nations and different worldwide organizations think about its figures to be the most reliable count of war casualties.

Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Colleen Barry in Milan, Josef Federman in Jerusalem and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed.