On July 17, 2025, at exactly 9:00, Israeli strike targeted the sole Catholic church of the Gaza strip, the Holy Family Latin Church in the Latin Convent in the heart of Gaza City.

By 10:00, A tank fired shell struck the church roof sending rubble crashing down on civilians gathered in the courtyard and in a charity tent providing mental health support

Since October 7, 2023, the church represents a vital sanctuary for hundreds of displaced Palestinians.

For the past two weeks, shelling and bombing around the church have been frequent. Numerous videos showing explosions heard or seen during mass were recorded from inside the church.

Gaza Civil Defense:

The Holy Family Church, targeted by the Israeli army, shelters about 400 displaced Christians who sought refuge there after their homes were destroyed (press statement)

Casualties:

At least eight people were wounded, two of them critically. Among the wounded is Father Gabriel Romanelli, the priest of the Catholic community in the city, who was reportedly very close with the late Pope Francis, having spoken with him often during the war in Gaza. Suhail Abu Dawood, Catholic atlter server was also wounded in the attack and remains in critical condition.

2 are killed.

Names of the victims:

1. Saad Salama (Rum Orthodox Christian)

2. Foumia Ayyad (Rum Orthodox Christian, the parish’s 60-year-old janitor)

3. Najwa Abu Daoud (Muslim woman in her 80s, who was receiving support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound)

Initial Press Release of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem on the church bombed by Israel:

“Jerusalem/Gaza 17 July 2025 The Holy Family Church in Gaza has been struck by a raid this morning. There are several injuries in the place including the Parish Priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli. Currently there are no fatalities confirmed. The Church sustained damage. The Patriarchate will provide additional details upon their confirmation.”

IDF spin

According to Haaretz, the IDF stated it is "aware of reports regarding damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and casualties at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are under review." The military added that it makes efforts "to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them."

Israel’s foreign ministry Gideon Sa'ar, stated that “he expresses deep sorrow over the damage [to the church] and over any civilian casualty. (...) Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians,” the ministry said in a statement. “The IDF is examining this incident, the circumstances of which are still unclear, and the results of the investigation will be published transparently.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday blamed “stray ammunition” and said his country was “investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites.”

Cardinal Pizzaballa (the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem) second statement:

“This morning, at approximately 10:20 a.m., the compound of the Holy Family in Gaza, belonging to the Latin Patriarchate, was struck by the Israeli army. As of this hour, three individuals lost their lives as a result of the injuries sustained and nine others were wounded, including one in critical condition and two in serious condition. The community’s parish priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, sustained light injuries. (...) The people in the Holy Family compound are people who found in the Church a sanctuary — hoping that the horrors of war might at least spare their lives, after their homes, possessions, and dignity had already been stripped away,” said the statement, adding that it “strongly condemns this tragedy and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place. However, this tragedy is not greater or more terrible than the many others that have befallen Gaza.”

Sources close to the patriarchate’s chancery told The Pillar Thursday that some officials believe the strike could be a deliberate act of retaliation, after Christian leaders recently condemned Israeli settler attacks on a West Bank Christian town. ‘not sure’ Gaza parish strike was ‘mistake’. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has expressed doubts after the Israeli government said that tank fire on the Gaza parish was not deliberate.

Later, in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera daily, Pizzaballa said a Catholic presence would remain in Gaza “whatever happens,” and expressed doubts about Israel’s comments that the strike was a mistake: “We are not a target. They say it was an error. Even if everybody here believes it wasn’t,”.

Weapon

Some reports talk about aerial bombing by drone, but eyewitnesses told The Associated Press that an IDF tank fired at the church. This was later confirmed by the IDF sources.

The chunguskitten X account,@chunguskitten, member of the Gazan Christian community and photographer testify that "Based on photos it looks like the Israeli tank operators were aiming for the cross, but missed hitting the roof leading to the debris to rain down and crush those sheltering inside. There is no reason for an Israeli tank shell to be aimed this high. Lord have mercy."

In an act of defiance, the church bells rang on the morning of July 18.

Visit by the Patriarchs Pizzaballa and Theophilos III

On Friday July 18, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem visited Gaza — a rare move due to Israel’s tight blockade, to “stand alongside those affected by recent events,” according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

They worked with humanitarian partners to secure access for hundreds of tons of food aid, first aid kits, and medical equipment, which will benefit both the Christian community and other families in Gaza as well.

The Patriarchate ensured also the evacuation of individuals injured in the attack to medical institutions outside Gaza where they will receive care. Praying for the safety of the visit, the Patriarchate called for the suspension of military activities. “The Latin Patriarchate said it remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza,” it said. “They will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned.”

Pope Francis called Pizzaballa and Theophilos to express support, stating he was "deeply saddened" by the attack but did not assign blame to Israel.

On July 18, Joint oecumenic statement of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem:

• Express their solidarity with people sheltering in the Gaza Catholic Parish :“In unyielding unity, we strongly denounce this crime,” “Houses of worship are sacred spaces that should be kept safe. They are also protected under international law. Targeting a church that houses approximately 600 refugees, including children with special needs, is a violation of these laws. It is also an affront to human dignity, a trampling upon the sanctity of human life, and the desecration of a holy site.”

• Assuring the community in Gaza of their prayers and calling upon the international community to push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza that leads to an end to the war: “We also implore them to guarantee the protection of all religious and humanitarian sites,”

More details on the Catholic parish of Gaza

The parish includes a school which provides a Christian education to children in Gaza, and it works closely with the nearby religious congregations of the Missionaries of Charity, Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, and the Rosary Sisters. The Missionaries of Charity care for the elderly and disabled, and the Rosary Sisters operate a school. The community is served by priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word.

Israeli attacks on the worship places (Muslim and Chrstian)

Since October 7, 2023, three churches in Gaza have been significantly damaged, alongside between 815 and over 1,000 mosques completely destroyed, with an additional 151 mosques partially damaged, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Awqaf and UNESCO assessments.

That’s not even taking in consideration the churches and mosques of Lebanon that were attacked/desecrated by Israeli forces.

The churches are:

➤ Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church – one of the oldest churches in the world, struck on October 19, 2023, during an Israeli airstrike that hit near the compound sheltering displaced civilians, killing at least 18 people.

➤ Holy Family Catholic Church(Latin Parish of Gaza) and the Latin Monastery Church (Deir al-Latin) – targeted on December 16, 2023; two Christian women were killed by Israeli sniper fire while sheltering inside. The attack was condemned by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and bombed in July 2025 by Israeli forces in the Old City of Gaza. The church’s priest, Gabriele Romanelli, was injured in the strike, and two worshippers were killed.

➤ The Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which includes a church, is the only Christian hospital in the Gaza Strip. It has about 80 beds and provides critical medical services, including surgery, outpatient care, and trauma treatment. The hospital is overseen by the Anglican Diocese of Jerusalem.In October 2023, it was targeted by an Israeli missile, killing hundreds of people who were sheltering in its yard. On Palm Sunday in April 2025, a missile strike again severely damaged the hospital. In June 2025, an eighth attack injured medical staff and displaced civilians. On July 8, 2024, the hospital was forcibly evacuated under orders from the Israeli military, and all patients and staff were removed.