Israel Strikes Gaza’s Sole Catholic Church, Killing Three
Families Sought Refuge as Holy Family Church Hit
Israeli forces have struck Gaza’s only Catholic church, killing three people and injuring at least ten. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem stated that the Thursday attack on the Holy Family Church in Gaza City also left one person critically wounded.
Sanctuary Shattered
The church, which had been sheltering displaced civilians, was hit directly. Among the deceased were the parish’s 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving support inside a tent within the church compound. The church’s pastor, Father **Gabriel Romanelli**, sustained a minor leg injury.
Shadi Abu Dawoud, whose mother was severely injured in the attack, described the event as “barbaric and unjustifiable.” He stated that the church’s main hall was accommodating many families, predominantly children and the elderly, all of whom he described as “peaceful civilians.”
Near the church, **Mohammed Abu Hashem** recounted a massive explosion that plunged the area into darkness. “The horror we are living in is beyond description,” he told Al Jazeera, expressing his disbelief that a church would be targeted.
Global Condemnation and Appeals for Peace
Pope Francis, through a telegram signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, expressed deep sorrow over the casualties and extended spiritual closeness to the community. The Pope reiterated his plea for an immediate ceasefire and voiced a strong hope for dialogue and lasting peace.
Pope Francis reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, expressing deep sadness over the killing of three people and wounding of ten others during an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Church, Gaza’s only Catholic place of worship. https://t.co/Fk7Q2U8a9u
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 2, 2023
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, reported that an Israeli tank struck the church. While the Israeli army claims the incident was unintentional and is under review, Pizzaballa expressed uncertainty regarding this assertion.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a rare apology and confirmed an investigation. They maintained that Israel does not target religious sites but acknowledged the regret over harm to civilians and property.
Pattern of Attacks and UN Findings
This incident follows previous attacks on religious sites in Gaza. In October, the Church of Saint Porphyrius, Gaza’s oldest church, was bombed, resulting in at least 18 fatalities.
A recent UN commission report stated that Israel has committed the crime against humanity of “extermination” through its attacks on Palestinian civilians sheltering in religious sites and schools. The report indicated that Israel has destroyed over half of the territory’s religious and cultural heritage sites and more than 90 percent of its educational institutions.
Hamas condemned the church attack as “a new crime committed against places of worship and innocent displaced persons,” framing it within a “comprehensive war of extermination.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also criticized Israel’s actions, deeming attacks on civilians “unacceptable.”
Christians in Gaza number approximately 1,100, predominantly Greek Orthodox, with a Roman Catholic minority. The community has historically sought sanctuary and spiritual solace within their places of worship.
