THREE people died and ten were injured on Thursday after an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Church — the only Catholic Church in Gaza.
One of the wounded is in a critical condition. Two others were seriously injured. The remaining seven, including the parish priest, Fr Gabriel Romanelli, were reportedly lightly wounded.
At approximately 10.20 a.m. this morning, an Israeli tank fired on the church, where Palestinian refugees were seeking shelter, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said in a statement.
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) reported that three young people who had been standing at the entrance of the church “were rushed to hospital in private vehicles due to the urgency of the situation”.
Cardinal Pizzaballa described the attack as the “targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place”. He continued: “However, this tragedy is not greater or more terrible than the many others that have befallen Gaza. Many other innocent civilians have also been harmed, displaced and killed. Death, suffering and destruction are everywhere.”
Speaking to Vatican News, Cardinal Pizzaballa said: “What we know for sure is that a tank, the IDF says by mistake, but we are not sure about this, they hit the Church directly, the Church of the Holy Family, the Latin Church.
“We don’t have complete information about what has happened in Gaza today because the communication in Gaza is not that simple,” he said.
CAFOD named the three dead as Saad Salameh, 60; Fumayya Ayyad, 84; and Najwa Abu Daoud, 60.
A statement from the charity said that Mr Salameh, the parish janitor, was in the yard and Mrs Ayyad was inside a Caritas psychosocial support tent when the blast sent shrapnel and debris into the area.
“Both were critically wounded and transported to Al-Mamadani Hospital, but due to the severe lack of medical resources and blood units in Gaza, they tragically passed away,” the statement said.
The Middle East representative for CAFOD, Elizabeth Funnell, called on the international community to “urgently protect civilians, places of worship, and humanitarian spaces, and to ensure that people in Gaza have access to the most basic right: the chance to survive”.
The general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Revd Professor Jerry Pillay, said in a statement that he was “deeply distressed” by the reports and that “places of worship must never be targets.”
He said: “Sacred sites are sanctuaries of peace, and attacks on them constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law and human dignity.”
The Pope sent a telegram to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem via the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, expressing his sadness “to learn of the loss of life and injury”.
Pope Leo said: “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. His Holiness renews his call for an immediate ceasefire, and he expresses his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation, and enduring peace in the region.”
The RC Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, condemned the “appalling strike” and said that he stood “in solidarity with Fr Gabriel Romanelli and the people sheltering in the compound — Christians and Muslims alike”.
“I add my voice to Pope Leo’s call for a return of hostages, and an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering in Gaza and bring peace to the region. I encourage you, in your homes and parishes, to pray for peace and an end to this war.”