On the morning of Thursday, July 17th, 2025, a horrific massacre was taking place at the Holy Family Church in Gaza City. When Israeli forces bombarded the site, they caused a catastrophic explosion. According to updates published on the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s website, a tank shell hit the church compound directly. This horrific attack killed three and wounded many more, including the parish priest.
Holy Family Church, which helped shelter Gaza’s diminished Christian community amid the past week’s deadly bombardment. It was equally famed for his deep friendship with the late Pope Francis. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Pope Francis had been calling the parish nearly every day, according to reports. The church has not only endured spiritual threats in recent years. In the ongoing war today, in December 2023, an Israeli military sniper killed two female community members who had sought refuge inside its walls.
The most recent victims were Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh and Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad. It did tragically take the life of Najwa Abu Dawood. Parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli was injured in the attack. Many more people who were in the church that morning were injured as well.
In response to the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the attack as a “mistake,” stating that “Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza’s Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy.” The Prime Minister’s Office acknowledged that an investigation into the incident has begun.
“An initial inquiry into reports regarding injured individuals in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City suggests that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly,” – Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The IDF has further insisted on its efforts to avoid civilian and civilian infrastructure damage – even including religious sites. They reiterated their stance by stating that “the (Israel Defense Forces) makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them.”
The Vatican reacted strongly to the news. Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin condemned last week’s strike as a “military attack.” He offered profound apologies, on behalf of Pope Leo XIV.
“In commending the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, the Holy Father prays for the consolation of those who grieve and for the recovery of the injured,” – Pietro Parolin.
Pope Leo XIV stated that he was “deeply grieved” please by the tragic incident. His words resonate with an increasing international outcry about the devastating consequences of this war on the most vulnerable Gazans.
As an aside, Karoline Leavitt, Netanyahu’s press secretary, ensure that she tweeted out that he was in communication with Pope Leo XIV just thereafter. She wrote, in the aftermath, that Netanyahu had agreed to a public admission of it being a mistake on the part of Israeli forces.
“He called Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning to address the strikes on that church in Gaza,” – Karoline Leavitt.
This event increases concern regarding the protection of religious minorities within Gaza’s borders. Even before the violence broke out on October 7, fewer than 1,000 Christians remained there. The region is largely Muslim and has experienced extreme conflict since the hostilities began.
Community leaders and international observers have raised concerns that religious sites, and in particular mosques, are not being sufficiently protected during continued military operations. Holy Family Church’s use as a refuge highlights the importance of protecting these spaces of solace amidst armed conflict.
