Catholic Church Shelter in Gaza Hit by Israeli Strike, Two Killed

An Israeli military strike has hit the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of two civilians and injuring several others, including the parish priest.

The church, the only Catholic place of worship in Gaza, had been a refuge for both Christians and Muslims amid the ongoing conflict.

The incident has sparked global outrage and renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire.

According to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the attack struck the church compound early in the day.

The two individuals killed were identified as:

• Saad Salameh, a 60-year-old janitor of the parish, and,
• Fumayya Ayyad, an 84-year-old woman who had been receiving mental health support within a tent set up by Caritas, a Catholic humanitarian organization.

Caritas Jerusalem expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, stating that both victims were critically injured and taken to al-Mamadani hospital.

However, due to the extreme shortages of medical supplies and blood in Gaza, they succumbed to their injuries.

“Their deaths highlight the desperate and impossible conditions civilians and healthcare workers are forced to endure in Gaza,” the organization stated, urging the world not to forget them.

Father Gabriel Romanelli, an Argentinian who has served as the parish priest of the Holy Family Church since 2019, was among the wounded.

Romanelli, who had previously received nightly calls of support from the late Pope Francis until the pontiff’s death in April, suffered a minor injury to his leg but was able to walk, as seen in Reuters footage from the hospital.

Eyewitnesses said the damage to the church appeared to be the result of Israeli tank fire.

In response to the incident, the Vatican released a message on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life and injury caused by the strike.

The message reiterated the pope’s plea for a ceasefire and called for respect toward civilians and places of worship.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a sharp condemnation, criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza as unjustifiable.

“The bombing of the Holy Family Church is deeply troubling.

“For months, Israel has carried out attacks that have severely affected the civilian population.

“No military justification can excuse this behavior,” she said in a statement.

Elizabeth Funnell, Middle East representative for the Catholic aid agency Cafod, emphasized the need for urgent international intervention.

“Civilians, religious institutions, and humanitarian centers must be protected.

“People in Gaza deserve, at the very least, the basic right to live,” she said.

Dr. Fadel Naim, acting director of al-Ahli Arab Hospital, which received the injured, confirmed that the church had been offering shelter to both Christians and Muslims, including children with disabilities.

Among those wounded were a child with special needs, two women, and an elderly individual.

The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged awareness of the reports concerning the strike on the Holy Family Church and stated that the incident was under investigation.

“The IDF takes steps to avoid harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure, including religious buildings, and regrets any harm caused,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, the church itself released a separate announcement stating that several individuals had been wounded, with some in critical condition.

The Holy Family compound had been considered a sanctuary for many amidst the relentless violence in Gaza.

Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli airstrikes claimed more lives on the same day.

These included four individuals killed in a home near the Imam al-Shafi’i school in the Zeitoun neighborhood, south-east of Gaza City.

Father Romanelli, reflecting on the loss of Pope Francis, described him as more than a global religious figure.

“Even from the hospital, he called us every night.

“We felt his presence as if he were one of our own.

“His death left us in profound grief.”

Before his passing, Francis had been a vocal critic of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In his final Easter address, he strongly denounced the deteriorating conditions and urged both Israel and Hamas to reach a ceasefire, release all hostages, and assist those suffering from starvation and displacement.

His appeal continues to echo in the midst of a worsening conflict with no clear end in sight.

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