Israel strikes Gaza’s only Catholic church, killing two and wounding several
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Two people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli air strike at the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza, where Christians and Muslims, including children with disabilities, had taken shelter, while Israeli strikes in other areas of the Gaza Strip killed and wounded dozens of Palestinians on Thursday.
The strike occurred on Thursday, and while the exact nature of the weapon used remains unconfirmed, witnesses suggested that the church compound was hit by Israeli tank shelling, The Guardian reported.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed that the strike caused fatalities and damage to the church compound, which had been serving as a shelter for both Christians and Muslims, including children with disabilities. Among the injured were two women, an elderly person, a child with disabilities, and the parish priest, an Argentinian national who suffered minor injuries.
He had previously received nightly phone calls from Pope Francis, who died in April, as part of the late pope’s effort to show solidarity with Gaza’s Christian community since the beginning of the war.
The church issued a statement noting that a number of the injured were in critical condition. Footage from a local hospital showed the priest with a bandaged leg but able to walk. Medical staff at al-Ahli Arab Hospital, where the injured were taken, reported that at least two people remained in critical condition following the incident.
The Israeli Defence Forces acknowledged awareness of the damage and casualties resulting from the incident and stated that an investigation was underway. The military reiterated that it takes measures to avoid harm to civilians and religious sites and expressed regret for any damage caused.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes continued across several areas of Gaza on the same day, with dozens reported killed or wounded. Among the casualties were four people who died in an attack near the Imam al-Shafi’i school in al-Zeitoun district, located southeast of Gaza City.