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18-Jul-2025
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Israel Expresses Deep Regret Over Attack on Catholic Church in Gaza, Calls for Investigation

AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS

Israeli authorities stated last night that they “deeply regret” the deadly strike on the only Catholic church in Gaza, in which three people were killed.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which holds jurisdiction over Latin Rite Catholics in Gaza, said that the Church of the Holy Family was struck by Israel yesterday morning. During the 20-month war, the church had become a shelter for the small Christian community in the enclave.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated: “Israel deeply regrets that a stray projectile struck the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy.”

“Israel is investigating this incident and remains committed to the protection of civilians and holy sites,” the statement from the Prime Minister’s office said.

In a Vatican telegram sent Thursday, a church official said that Pope Leo XIV was “deeply saddened” by the strike.

Calling the incident a “military action,” Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said: “Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the merciful love of Almighty God, the Holy Father prays for comfort for those who mourn and for the healing of the injured.”

Netanyahu’s office noted that the Prime Minister is “grateful to Pope Leo for his words of comfort.”

During a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump, Netanyahu said that the church incident was a “mistake,” according to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt at a press conference. When asked about Trump’s reaction to the strike, Leavitt described it as “not a positive one.”

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted that the church was hit “by mistake.”

“A preliminary investigation into the reports of injuries at the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City indicates that fragments from a shell fired during a military operation in the area accidentally struck the church,” the IDF said in a statement yesterday.

“The cause of the incident is under review.”

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