Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed sorrow on Thursday after an Israeli strike hit Gaza’s only Catholic church, killing three civilians and injuring several others seeking refuge inside. The Holy Family Church in Gaza City was struck by what Israel has described as “stray ammunition” during a military operation.
“Every innocent life lost is a tragedy,” Netanyahu said in a statement. “We deeply regret that a stray ammunition hit the church. We share the grief of the families and the faithful.” He also emphasized that Israel was “investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites.”
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the Holy Family Church, confirmed the casualties and said several others were wounded, including parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. The church had been sheltering dozens of civilians hoping for safety amid the ongoing conflict.
Pope Leo XIV responded with sorrow, stating he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury,” and once again called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In a follow-up statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said an initial inquiry suggested that “fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly.” The IDF stressed that its operations target only military objectives and that “every feasible effort is made to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures.”
The IDF added, “We regret any unintentional damage caused to them.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said U.S. President Donald Trump had “no positive reaction” to the incident. Trump reportedly called Netanyahu Thursday morning to discuss the matter, during which Netanyahu characterized the strike as a “mistake,” according to Leavitt.
The Latin Patriarchate condemned the strike in a separate statement, describing the Holy Family Church as a place where people sought refuge “hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare their lives after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away.”
The statement concluded with a strong plea: “The war must come to a complete end.”
As global leaders react and investigations unfold, the deadly strike has intensified calls for a ceasefire and further highlighted the growing toll on civilians in Gaza.