Attack on the Catholic Church of Gaza: the parish priest wounded, Pope Leone expresses pain, Italy condemns “unacceptable acts”. Condolence also from the union of Italian Jewish communities
An alleged Israeli attack against the only Catholic Church of Gaza caused the death of three people and the injury of several others (at least 11), according to what reported by Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem. The episode, which took place on Thursday, raised a strong international sentence and aroused Israel expressions of “deep pain” by Israel. The Israeli defense forces (IDF) announced the opening of an investigation into the incident, while the Foreign Ministry he reiterated that Israel “He never takes churches or other places of worship».
According to the patriarchate, the complex of Holy Family He was hit in the morning and among the wounded also the parish priest, father Gabriel Romanelli. “The Church has undergone serious damage,” reads the press release released by the ecclesiastical institution. Father RomanelliArgentine citizen, is known for his daily contacts with the deceased Pope Francis During the most intense moments of the war in Gaza. Pictures widespread in the hours following the attack show a portion of the roof of the damaged church, with a missing section near the large stone cross, as well as broken glass and scattered debris.
Medical sources of the hospital al-ahli They report that there are two women among the victims, but at the moment the overall balance cannot be confirmed. The interim director of the health facility, Fadel Naem, He said that the Church welcomed both Christian and Muslims, including numerous children with disabilities.
The Pope, through a telegram signed by the Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, has expressed its condolence for what happened: “deeply saddened for the loss of human lives and for the wounded caused by the military attack”, assured its “spiritual closeness to Father Gabriele Romanelli and the whole parish community”. The message ends with an appeal to a “immediate fire”, hoping for “dialogue, reconciliation and lasting peace”.
For its part, the Ministry of Israeli Foreign He said: “We express deep pain for the damage inflicted on the Church and for civil victims”. In an official note it is reiterated that Israel “intentionally affects places of worship or civil” and that “the circumstances of the accident are still the subject of verification”, ensuring that the results of the survey “will be made public in a transparent way”. In a separate communication, the IDFs confirmed that they are aware of the episode: «We are aware of the reports concerning the damage to the church of the Holy Family in Gaza City and the recorded victims. The circumstances are being reviewed ». The Israeli armed forces have added to “every effort to minimize civil victims and infrastructure damage, including religious sites”. Israel charges Hamas the responsibility to use the civilian population as a shield, positioning its military infrastructures in residential and sensitive areas.
The Cardinal Pierbattista PizzaballaLatin patriarch of Jerusalem, said that an Israeli tank hit the church. “We know with certainty that it is a tank. The IDF speaks of error, but we have no elements to confirm it, “he said to Vatican News. “It is too early to draw conclusions. Communications from Gaza are difficult. We must first understand what happened, protect our community and make sure that similar episodes do not repeat themselves ». Even the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, intervened on the matter: «The Israeli raids hit the church of the Holy Family. The attacks against civilians that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military operation can justify similar actions “, he wrote on X.The Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defined the episode” a serious act against a place of Christian worship “and expressed” profound closeness to Father Romanelli “, who was injured in the Raid.
In a note the union of Italian Jewish Communities “The union of the Italian Jewish communities expresses its condolence and pain for what happened following the accident in which the church of the Holy Family in Gaza was affected, a place of worship and prayer, a space all the more essential in a context deeply marked by a long and lacerating conflict. We join the prayers for the injured, we manifest our closeness to the church, to the Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem, to Father Romanelli and all the faithful affected. The respect and protection of religious places, of whatever faith they are, are fundamental for coexistence, human dignity and hope of peace “. In the Gaza Strip About a thousand Christians live on a population of over two million people. The majority is of Orthodox faith, while the Catholics are about 135, according to the data of the Latin patriarchate. After the outbreak of the war in October 2023, many members of the Christian community had taken refuge in the complex of the church of the Holy Family, together with Orthodox faithful.
