Israel bombs Gaza's only Catholic church
The attack on Thursday killed two people, injured several others and and damaged the Holy Family Church. It is one of three surviving churches in the war-ravaged enclave which have become refuges for displaced Christians.
'The Holy Family Church in Gaza has been struck by a raid this morning. There are several injuries in the place, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli,' the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said.
The Patriarchate later updated the death toll to two.
Witnesses reported the church was hit by tank shelling. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was 'aware of reports' and the incident was 'under review'.
'The IDF makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them,' a statement added.
Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, condemned the attack as 'unacceptable'.
' Israeli raids on Gaza also hit the Holy Family Church,' she said in a statement. 'The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such behaviour.'
The Vatican has confirmed the strike, but not yet commented.
Footage shows part of the church's roof missing, as well as significant damage to the windows.
Fadel Naem, director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the wounded and is next door to the church, said the area around the church had been repeatedly struck for a week.
Since the outbreak of war in the Strip, the church has become a shelter for some 500 people, both Christian and Muslim, and serves as a base for food, water and medical supplies for thousands displaced in the city.
Father Gabriel Romanelli was injured in the leg and is now recovering in hospital.
The Argentinian, who has served as the Holy Family parish priest since 2019, was in near daily telephone contact with Pope Francis until the last days of the pontiff's life.
After the conflict broke out, Pope Francis, who died in April at the age of 88, would call the church every night at 8pm and not only speak to Father Romanelli, but those seeking shelter inside its walls to see how they were faring.
Last year, the school on the Holy Family church grounds was hit by an Israeli air strike, killing four people. including Ihab al-Ghussein, a senior Hamas official. Israel's military at the time said it was being used as a 'terrorist hideout'.
Civilians seeking shelter in the church have also reportedly been killed by Israeli snipers.
The once-flourishing Christian community in Gaza has shrunk to a seventh of its size 60 years ago due to successive conflicts. Some have left for the West Bank, while others emigrated to the West or nearby Arab countries.
Roughly 1,000 remain in the Strip, a blend of Orthodox and Catholics. Most are sheltering within its three churches, which have all been damaged in the 21-month war.
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