Latest news with #GazaAttack
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Faith leaders condemn Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
(NewsNation) — Fallout continues to grow after an Israeli tank shell struck the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza on Thursday, drawing strong condemnation from international faith leaders. The shell killed three people, wounding 10 and damaging the building. Hundreds of Palestinians had been using the church compound for shelter and aid during the now 21-month war between Israel and Hamas. The site was providing refuge to both Christians and Muslims, including children with disabilities. Religious leaders condemn the attack Top Christian leaders in Jerusalem visited the church on Friday in a show of solidarity after the strike. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, led a delegation to the compound, helping to evacuate injured individuals for treatment outside of Gaza and announcing plans to provide food and medical aid to those in need. The leaders 'express(ed) the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza,' according to a press release from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Pope Leo spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone and 'reiterated the urgent need to protect places of worship and, especially, the faithful and all people in Palestine and Israel,' according to the Holy See Press Office. Pope Francis had a special connection to the church, having spoken frequently with its members over the phone throughout the war and in the months leading up to his death. Israel, Netanyahu apologize The attack was described as an accident by Israeli officials. 'Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful,' Netanyahu said in a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. The incident is currently under review by the Israel Defense Forces. Pressure to reach a ceasefire deal continues to mount amid the ongoing conflict that has resulted in nearly 60,000 Palestinian deaths following the Oct. 7 attack in Israel that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the abduction of 251. President Donald Trump also expressed his dismay with the attack in a phone call with Netanyahu. The Associated Press contributed to this report Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Netanyahu phones Pope after striking church attack in Gaza
Published July 18th, 2025 - 12:59 GMT ALBAWABA - Israeli planes attacked the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, which was the only Catholic church in the surrounded area. On Friday, Pope Leo XIV called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to voice his great worry and repeat his call for a strike happened early Thursday morning and killed three people and hurt at least ten more, including Father Gabriel Romanelli, the church priest. The Vatican called the situation in Gaza "tragic," pointing out that children, the old, and the sick are suffering a Vatican said in a news release that the Pope, who was speaking from his home in Castel Gandolfo, strongly told Netanyahu to work for peace and protect places of worship. The statement said, "The Holy Father stressed again how important it is to protect places of worship, the faithful, and everyone in Palestine and Israel."The call came after the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem made a strong plea for world leaders to "raise their voices" and move quickly to stop what it called a "unjustified human and moral tragedy." At the same time, the White House revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had also talked to Netanyahu after what was called a "negative reaction" to the news of the church bombing. It is said that Trump talked to Netanyahu about what happened, which made the Israeli leader say that the attack on the Catholic spot was a "mistake." Pope Leo XIV has called Benjamin Netanyahu by phone to discuss the 'military attack by the Israel army' that killed three Christians yesterday Leo XIV expressed concern at the suffering in Gaza, called for places of worship to be safe and for an immediate end to the war — Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 18, 2025 White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said that Netanyahu told the president that the bombing wasn't done on purpose and that he was sorry for the deaths of civilians. The event has caused anger around the world, putting more pressure on Israel to protect civilians and start up new diplomacy efforts to end the 21-month-long war. Pope Leo's repeated pleas show the Vatican's moral stance on the need for peace, protecting religious freedom, and keeping people's respect in times of conflict. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Fox News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Pope demands ceasefire after Gaza's Catholic church is hit in apparent Israeli strike
Pope Leo XIV expressed sadness and called for a ceasefire after Gaza's only Catholic church was hit in an apparent Israeli strike, leaving at least two dead and several injured. "His Holiness Pope Leo XIV was deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, and he assures the parish priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli, and the whole parish community of his spiritual closeness," read a telegram sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on behalf of the pope. Parolin added that the pope "renews his call for an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned the attack and slammed Israel. "Israeli raids on Gaza also hit the Church of the Holy Family. The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude," Meloni said. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was "aware of reports regarding damage" to the church and that the "circumstances of the incident are under review." "The IDF does not target religious institutions and takes many precautions to avoid harm to civilians or holy sites. We remain committed to safeguarding the freedom of religion for people of all faiths," IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani wrote in a post on X. Israeli Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein echoed a similar message, saying that the country "expresses deep sorrow" over the damage to the church and the loss of life. He added that "Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site and uninvolved civilians." The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said on Thursday that the community's parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, "sustained light injuries" in the apparent strike. "The people in the Holy Family Compound are people who found in the Church a sanctuary—hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare their lives, after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away. On behalf of the entire Church of the Holy Land, we extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, and from here, we offer our prayers for the swift and full recovery of the wounded," the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement. The Latin Patriarchate added that it "strongly condemns" the incident "and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place."
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Israel bombs Gaza's only Catholic church
A priest who was a close friend of the late Pope Francis has been injured in an Israeli strike on 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.
Washington Post
11-07-2025
- Washington Post
Video shows Israeli strike that killed at least ten children
World Video shows Israeli strike that killed at least ten children July 11, 2025 | 8:50 PM GMT CCTV footage captured the moment an Israeli airstrike killed at least 17 people, mostly children, in central Gaza on July 10.
