After an initial investigation into reports that a Catholic church was hit by Israel in Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday that “fragments from a shell” hit the church “mistakenly” following airstrikes near the site.
“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 said.
Three were killed and nine injured, with extensive damage to the site, according to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in a statement on its website.
The injured included Argentine citizen Father Gabriel Romanelli, the church priest, who “sustained light injuries,” according to the press release.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a statement expressing Israel’s deep regret about the “stray” shell that hit the church.
“We share the grief of the families and the faithful. We are grateful to Pope Leo for his words of comfort. Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites,” the PMO said.
The PMO released the statement following a phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump.
“It was not a positive reaction. He called Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning to address the strikes on that church in Gaza,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday, Reuters reported.
“And I understand the prime minister agreed to put out a statement. It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic Church. That’s what the prime minister relayed to the president,” Leavitt said.
Pope Leo urged an immediate ceasefire in the wake of Thursday’s incident, Vatican News reported.
“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 Church in Gaza,” a statement by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin read.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the development “unacceptable,” adding, “No military action can justify such an attitude.”
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the incident as a “serious act against a Christian place of worship,” adding that it is “time to stop and find peace.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday afternoon expressed “deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty.
The Jewish state “never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians,” it emphasized.
The IDF in May released intelligence indicating Hamas continues to conduct terrorism from within and around civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including hospitals, schools and other public facilities.
According to the military, the intelligence underscored the “cynical exploitation” by Hamas of civilians to carry out attacks, using noncombatants as human shields and putting civilian lives at risk.
