Israeli Strike on Gaza’s Only Catholic Church Kills Two, Injures Several, Including Parish Priest
- Victor Nwoko
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
An Israeli military strike on Thursday morning hit the Holy Family Church, Gaza’s only Catholic church, killing two civilians and injuring several others, including the parish priest, according to church and medical officials.
The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem confirmed the deaths of the parish’s 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman who was receiving psychosocial support inside a humanitarian tent on the church grounds. The incident occurred during what witnesses described as Israeli tank shelling, causing significant damage to the church building itself.
The parish priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, who maintained a close spiritual relationship with the late Pope Francis and spoke with him regularly during the war, sustained injuries along with several others. At least two individuals are in critical condition. Among the injured are a child with disabilities, two women, and an elderly person, according to Dr. Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the wounded.
The Holy Family Church, located near Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza, had been serving as a shelter for both Christian and Muslim civilians, including disabled children and vulnerable families. The surrounding area has reportedly endured repeated bombardment over the past week.
The Israeli military said it is aware of the incident and is investigating but did not provide immediate comment on the nature of the strike.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack, holding Israel responsible. “The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude,” she stated.
Additional strikes across Gaza on Thursday claimed at least two more lives, including one in Gaza City and another in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, according to reports from local hospitals.
The Holy Family Church had become a symbol of resilience in the besieged territory. In the final 18 months of his life, Pope Francis frequently called the parish—reportedly every evening at 7 p.m.—to check on the nearly 600 civilians sheltering there. The Pope previously shared this during an interview last year.
Gaza, a predominantly Muslim enclave, is home to approximately 1,000 Christians, according to the U.S. State Department’s 2024 International Religious Freedom Report. Most are Greek Orthodox, but the Christian community also includes Roman Catholics and other denominations.
The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, after a large-scale attack by Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages. While some hostages have since been released through ceasefire deals, 50 remain in captivity, with fewer than half believed to be alive.
In response, Israel launched a wide-scale military offensive that has so far killed over 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry reports that women and children make up more than half of the casualties. While it is administered by Hamas, the ministry’s casualty data is widely considered credible by international organizations, including the United Nations.
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