Israel has expressed “deep regret” over a deadly strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, which killed three people and injured several others. The Holy Family Church was struck by Israeli forces on Thursday morning, sparking an investigation into the incident.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees Roman Catholics in Gaza, said the church had become a shelter for the enclave’s tiny Christian community amid the ongoing 20-month war. Pope Leo received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, during which he reiterated his calls for a ceasefire to end the conflict.
Leaders from the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Church visited the church on Thursday, showing their support for Gaza’s Catholics amidst Israel’s tight control over access in and out of the territory. The incident has sparked concern among Palestinian officials, who say the war has killed over 58,000 people.
Ceasefire talks are ongoing, with Israel potentially showing flexibility on key sticking points, including the potential withdrawal of its troops from the Morag Corridor – a key Israeli security zone in southern Gaza.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/17/middleeast/pope-leo-israel-strike-gaza-church-intl