ISRAELI FORCES STRIKE CATHOLIC PARISH IN GAZA

 

The Holy Family Parish in Gaza  (AFP or licensors)

 

Israeli forces strike Catholic Parish in Gaza

The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza, was struck by a raid this morning resulting in several injuries including the Parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli.

By Vatican News

The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in the Gaza Strip, was hit by a tank this morning, seriously injuring four people. Others were reportedly wounded more lightly, including the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli. Two people have since died from their injuries. 

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, earlier spoke to Vatican News:

“What we know for sure is that a tank, the IDF says by mistake, but we are not sure about this, they hit the Church directly, the Church of the Holy Family, the Latin Church”, he said. “There are four people seriously wounded, among these four, two are in very dramatic conditions and their lives are in serious danger”.

“There are also other injured but less problematic, among them also the Parish Priest, because they were all in the Church”.

“We don’t have complete information about what has happened in Gaza today because the communication in Gaza is not that simple”, he explained, adding he will try to get more information as soon as possible.

 

Father Gabriel Romanelli being treated for his light injuries

 

We will never leave them alone

Speaking in Italian to Vatican News, Cardinal Pizzaballa expressed his closeness to those affected in Gaza: "We always try to reach Gaza in all possible ways, directly and indirectly. Now it's too early to talk about all this, we need to understand what happened, what should be done, especially to protect our people, and of course try to make sure that these things don't happen anymore. Then we will see how to continue, but certainly we will never leave them alone."

Earlier, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem had posted a press release on X confirming the Church was “struck by a raid”.  The statement said there are “no fatalities confirmed” at the moment, but the Church has sustained damage.

According to the Catholic press agency SIR, the Holy Family Church is currently hosting around 500 displaced Christians.

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-07/the-parish-priest-father-gabriel-romanelli.html