Two dead, several injured in raid on Catholic church in Gaza

17/7/2025 17:01

Two women were killed and several people were injured following a strike which hit the Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip, doctors at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City said on Thursday.



The strike damaged the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church inside the Palestinian enclave.



The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israeli Defense Forces said it was looking into the matter.



Italy's ANSA news agency said six people were seriously injured, while parish priest Father Gabriele Romanelli, who used to regularly update the late Pope Francis about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suffered light leg injuries.



"Israeli raids on Gaza have also hit the Holy Family Church," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement.



"The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude," she added.