Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country “deeply regrets that a stray munitions” strike on Gaza’s only Catholic Church killed at least three people who were among an estimated 500 Christians sheltering there since the start of the war in October 2023.
The charity Caritas Jerusalem said a tank shell hit the church roof, “scattering shrapnel and debris across the yard”.
“At the time, some individuals were outside the main building, including two elderly women who were sitting inside our Caritas psychosocial support tent.”
“Both were severely wounded as were three young people who had been standing at the entrance.”
Soon after it was confirmed three victims had died while others were fighting for life.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND POPE CONDEMN DEADLY STRIKE
“Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement which came amid pressure from US President Donald Trump and the Pope.
President Trump called the Prime Minister telling him to address the tank-shell strike on the Holy Family Church.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president “did not have a positive reaction” to the attack on the church and that Mr. Netanyahu told him “it was a mistake by the Israelis.”
Pope Leo XIV said he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack” and reiterated calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
CARDINAL DOUBTS STRIKE WAS AN ACCIDENT
The most powerful Catholic in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa who is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, expressed doubt that the strike was an accident.
“What we know for sure is that a tank shell [hit the church], the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] says by mistake, but we are not sure about this. They hit the church directly,” he told Vatican media.
In a rare criticism of Israel, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a general supporter of the Jewish state and the Netanyahu government, described Israel’s “attacks against the civilian population” as “unacceptable.”
Among those injured in the strike was the church’s senior priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who received near-daily phone calls from the late Pope Francis throughout the war.
“ISRAEL REMAINS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING HOLY SITES”
Peimw Minister Netanyahu said Israel was “investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites”.
The IDF said in its own statement that: “An initial inquiry suggests that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly. “
“The IDF directs its strikes solely at military targets and makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures, and regrets any unintentional damage caused to them,” it added.
TENSION BETWEEN US AND ISRAEL OVER VISAS FOR CHRISITIANS
Meanwhile, tensions between the US and the Netanyahu government have intensified over the denial of visas to American Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee took the extraordinary step of accusing the office of Israel’s Interior Minister Moshe Arbel of systematically denying visas to Christian tour groups.
In a letter, Mr. Huckabee expressed his “profound disappointment” and warned of diplomatic fallout if the issue is not resolved swiftly.
The one-time Baptist minister and long-time ally of Israel accused the Interior Ministry of treating Evangelical Christians — among Israel’s staunchest supporter — “like enemies.”
AMBASSADOR THREATENS RETAILIATION OVER VISAS DENIAL
The ambassador warned that unless there is immediate improvement, the US Embassy would be forced to publicly announce that Israel is not welcoming Christian tourists and is actively harassing them.
He even threatened to recommend that American Christians reconsider travel plans to Israel and raised the prospect of reciprocal action against Israeli travellers seeking entry to the United States.
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