GazaHerald – An Israeli airstrike on Thursday struck the Holy Family Church in the heart of Gaza City, killing two people and wounding at least seven others, including one of the territory’s most prominent Catholic figures, Father Gabriele Romanielli.
The church, Gaza’s only Catholic place of worship, had been sheltering dozens of displaced civilians when the strike hit. According to doctors at Al-Ahli Hospital, the two victims were women, and several others sustained injuries of varying severity.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the Holy Family Church, confirmed the deaths and condemned the attack in a solemn statement: “We pray to God to have mercy on them and for this barbaric war to end. Nothing justifies targeting innocent civilians.”
Father Gabriele Romanielli, a long-time spiritual leader of Gaza’s Christian community and a confidant of the late Pope Francis, was lightly wounded in the leg. He is currently receiving treatment in the hospital. His injury and the attack have sent waves of distress through Gaza’s already vulnerable Christian minority.
Italian media first reported that six people were seriously injured in the strike. The news triggered a swift response from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who issued a strong condemnation from Rome.
“The Israeli strikes on Gaza also targeted the Church of the Holy Family,” she said. “The attacks carried out by Israel against the civilian population for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such behavior.”
The church, located in Gaza’s historic Old City, had served as a refuge for many displaced families since the start of the Israeli assault on the enclave. Civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal confirmed the civilian toll: “Two Christian citizens were killed after being hit by an Israeli strike on the Latin Church this morning.”
Local sources said the church was housing multiple families at the time of the attack.
