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Yahoo
5 hours 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
20 hours 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 (


Middle East Eye
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Pope Leo under fire for 'vague' statement on Israel's bombing of Gaza Catholic church
Pope Leo is facing growing criticism over his response to an Israeli air strike on the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, which killed two women and wounded several others, including a pastor. The Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem confirmed that Father Gabriel Romanelli was among the wounded and said the strike caused significant structural damage to the Holy Family Church, where displaced Palestinian civilians had been sheltering. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the strike and said 'the attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable". In a statement, Pope Leo expressed sorrow and called for peace, but stopped short of naming Israel as the attacker, prompting disappointment from Palestinian Christians and observers around the world. He wrote: 'I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in #Gaza. I assure the parish community of my spiritual closeness. I commend the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, and pray for their families and the injured. I renew my call for an immediate ceasefire. Only dialogue and reconciliation can ensure enduring peace!' New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Social media users have demanded a clearer call for accountability. One user described the statement as 'a shameful response". "The Christians of Gaza are not suffering because they've failed to commit to 'dialogue and reconciliation',' they said. Palestinian clergy and spiritual leaders are fighting on the ground with their people, risking their lives, begging the Christians of the world for support. And all Pope Leo - with his enormous power and influence - can offer them is an empty lukewarm statement. What a coward — Liz (@lzreads) July 17, 2025 Many social media users comparisons between Pope Leo and his predecessor Pope Francis, expressing disappointment in the new pope's response. Pick up where Pope Francis left off. Being vague doesn't do any justice during a genocide — John 1:29🇻🇦🕯️ (@john_1_29) July 17, 2025 One user said: 'Pope Francis much missed. This is a cowardly message... omitting even who the perpetrators were." Many recalled how Pope Francis maintained nightly phone calls with Gaza's Christian community and had grown increasingly vocal in criticising Israel's military campaign. With all respect, @Pontifex, why not name the country, Israel, that carried out this attack and so many others against Christians in Gaza and the West Bank??? — Medea Benjamin (@medeabenjamin) July 17, 2025 Others accused Pope Leo of failing to "call the church" or "call out the perpetrators". Meanwhile, Israel's government welcomed the pope's words. A statement from the Prime Minister's Office read: 'We are grateful to Pope Leo for his words of comfort… Israel is investigating the incident.' That endorsement prompted fresh backlash online. 'This is straight embarrassing,' one user wrote. Another said: 'How dare you. Pope Leo's words of comfort are for the people you attacked, not for you and your murderous government.' 'words of comfort' LOL just in case it wasn't clear, the only time you were considered in that message is when he mentioned 'military attack' — Chito & Bob (@danthelions_) July 17, 2025 Early this year, the spokesperson for Gaza's Ministry of Endowments told Anadolu Agency that three churches have been demolished in Gaza since 7 October 2023, while 79 percent of mosques have been destroyed. The overall death toll in Gaza has reached 58,573, with 139,607 more wounded.


New York Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Two dead after Israeli airstrike hits Gaza's only Catholic church
An Israeli airstrike hit Gaza's only Catholic church, killing two people and wounding several others, including the priest who spoke to Pope Francis every day for the last 18 months before his death. A shell struck the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza on Wednesday, which has been serving as a shelter for hundreds of Palestinians amid the war. Among the injured was Rev. Gabriele Romanelli, the man who took the late pontiff's phone calls every day to update him on the situation in Gaza, according to the Vatican. Advertisement 6 Rev. Gabriele Romanelli, who spoke to Pope Francis everyday before his death, was among the injured after an Israeli shell hit his Church in Gaza. REUTERS 6 The Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza held a service for the two people killed in Wednesday's strike. AFP via Getty Images Since the war began following Hamas' terror attack on Oct. 7, 2023, the church compound has taken in more than 600 Christians and Muslims living in Gaza, including dozens of children with disabilities, according to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Advertisement The Christian church said the building had suffered significant damage. Targeting the building 'is a blatant affront to human dignity and a grave violation of the sanctity of life and the inviolability of religious sites, which are meant to serve as safe havens during times of war,' the Jerusalem-based church said in a statement. 6 The injured were rushed to the nearby Al-Ahli Hospital for treatment. AFP via Getty Images 6 The cross still stood on the church after a shell struck and damaged its roof. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Pope Leo XIV said he was 'deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack″ and reaffirmed that the Vatican remains close to Romanelli and those taking refuge at the church. The American pope once again called for an immediate cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, where Israel and Hamas forces have fought for 650 days, with the current peace talks bearing no fruit. The Holy Family Catholic Church's 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman were the latest casualties in the war, according to the Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the dead and injured. 6 The church has taken hundreds of Christians and Muslims refuge since the war in Gaza began. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement Fadel Naem, the hospital's acting director, said both the areas around the church and medical center have been struck repeatedly in the last week. While the Israeli military has defended bombing civilian infrastructure as a necessity to rout out Hamas, the Jewish state's foreign minister issued a rare apology after the church was hit. 'Israel expresses deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty,' the ministry said in a statement. 6 Smoke billows over the ruined Gaza strip following the latest Israeli airstrikes on Thursday. AFP via Getty Images The Israel Defense Forces said it was also aware of the damage and is currently investigating the strike. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slammed Israel for the deadly shelling, describing the attack on the church as emblematic of its bombardment campaign across Gaza that continues to claim civilian lives. 'The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude,' she said. With Post wires


ITV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Three killed in Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church which Pope Francis called every day
Three people have died after Israeli strikes hit Gaza's only Catholic church which the late Pope Francis made daily phone calls to throughout the war. According to aid charity CAFOD, two of those killed in the attack were the parish's 60-year-old janitor Saad Salameh and Fumayya Ayyad, an 84-year-old woman who was inside a welfare tent in the church compound. Several people were also injured in the attack including the parish priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli, who became close to Pope Francis before his death in April. The pontiff would often call the lone Catholic church in the Gaza Strip to see how people huddled inside were coping during the war. Previously, Father Romanelli described the regular calls with the late Pope as "big consolation for our souls". The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the war. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, told Vatican News that the church was hit 'directly' by a tank on Thursday morning. Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in response to the attack. In a telegram of condolences for the victims sent by the Vatican's No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Leo expressed his "profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region'. The pope was 'deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack,″ and expressed his closeness to the parish priest and the entire parish. Archbishop of Westminster Cardinal Vincent Nichols, leader of Catholics in England and Wales condemned the 'appalling strike' on the church which he called a 'place of sanctuary and spiritual support amidst the horrors of war'. He said: 'I add my voice to Pope Leo's call for a return of hostages, and an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering in Gaza and bring peace to the region." The Israeli military said it was aware of the damage caused at the church and is investigating. It said the IDF 'makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them'. In a rare move, the Israeli Foreign Ministry posted an apology on social media. 'Israel expresses deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty,' the ministry said. Israel has repeatedly said it only targets militants, and accuses Hamas of operating from civilians areas. Elizabeth Funnell, Middle East representative for CAFOD, said: 'It is outrageous that working as a janitor in a church, Saad Salameh was not safe. He was killed while going about his daily work, in the grounds of a sacred building that should have been protected. "Fumayya Ayyad was 84, old enough to remember all the changes in the region since World War II. She was sitting down receiving support, in a tent within the church compound, when she was fatally wounded. 'Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest, had been urging people to remain inside their rooms in recent days, as the situation around the church was becoming so dangerous. "This is not a normal way for people to live, and yet his words and advice undoubtedly saved lives. A colleague in the church compound in Gaza told me: 'If Father Gabriel hadn't warned us to stay indoors, we could have lost 50 to 60 people today. It would have been a massacre.'" Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the strike on the church. 'The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude,' she said. The church is just a stone's throw from Al-Ahli Hospital, said acting director Fadel Naem, noting that the area around both the church and the hospital has been repeatedly struck for over a week. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which also has a church in Gaza that previously sustained damage from Israeli strikes, said the Holy Family Church was sheltering 600 displaced people, including many children, and 54 people with disabilities. It said the building suffered significant damage. Targeting a holy site 'is a blatant affront to human dignity and a grave violation of the sanctity of life and the inviolability of religious sites, which are meant to serve as safe havens during times of war,' the Church said in a statement. Around 1,000 Christians live in Gaza, an overwhelmingly Muslim territory, according to the US State Department's international religious freedom report for 2024. The report says the majority of Palestinian Christians are Greek Orthodox but they also include other Christians, including Roman Catholics. Separately, another person was killed and 17 injured on Thursday in a strike against two schools sheltering displaced people in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike.