According to the IDF’s Southern Command, a probe completed Tuesday night revealed that the strike on the church compound was an error during operations in the area.
Newsroom (23/07/2025, Gaudium Press ) On Wednesday 23 July 2025, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that a misfired munition unintentionally struck the Holy Family Church in Gaza City last Thursday, the only Catholic church in the region, during a military operation. The incident, which resulted in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to several others, including parish priest Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, has drawn sharp international condemnation and raised profound concerns within the Catholic community about the sanctity of religious sites and the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
According to the IDF’s Southern Command, a probe completed Tuesday night 22 July 2025 revealed that the strike on the church compound was an error during operations in the area. The military has since adjusted its targeting protocols and reinforced guidelines for operations near religious and sensitive sites. Israel’s Foreign Ministry expressed “deep sorrow,” emphasizing that the nation “never targets churches or religious sites.” The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) facilitated humanitarian aid—food, medicine, and supplies—to the church and arranged for representatives of the Greek and Latin Patriarchates to visit the site. Injured civilians were evacuated for medical treatment.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the Holy Family Church, mourned the loss of life and called for peace, underscoring the church’s role as a beacon of hope and refuge for Gaza’s small Catholic community. The destruction of a sacred space—dedicated to worship and charity—represents not only a physical loss but a wound to the spiritual fabric of the region. The Church teaches that places of worship are sanctuaries of God’s presence, deserving of reverence and protection, even amidst conflict (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1186).
The strike occurred against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, with the IDF reporting airstrikes on 120 terror targets in the past day, including operatives, tunnels, and booby-trapped buildings. While the IDF insists it targets only military objectives and expressed regret for civilian harm, reports from Gaza indicate significant civilian casualties. On Tuesday, an Israeli strike on a house sheltering displaced families in northwestern Gaza City reportedly killed eight people, including children. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reported 77 deaths in the previous 24 hours, though no immediate toll was provided for Wednesday’s operations.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with 111 organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, Caritas International and Oxfam, warning of “mass starvation” spreading across the territory. Their joint statement decried the “cycle of hope and heartbreak” faced by Palestinians awaiting aid and ceasefires, only to endure worsening conditions. Despite Israel’s claims of allowing humanitarian aid and accusing Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering, the organizations reported warehouses full of undelivered supplies, blocked by logistical and political barriers. The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the U.S. and Israel, has faced criticism, with reports of hundreds of Palestinians killed while seeking aid at its sites since late May.
The Catholic Church, rooted in its commitment to human dignity and the preferential option for the poor (Gaudium et Spes, 27), calls for immediate action to alleviate suffering. The Israel Medical Association’s letter to COGAT chief Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian urged unrestricted access for humanitarian aid and medical supplies. COGAT responded by highlighting the transfer of over 45,000 tons of medical equipment since the war’s onset and the establishment of 13 field hospitals. Yet, the Church’s social teaching emphasizes that aid must reach those in need without delay or manipulation, as human life is sacred and inviolable (Evangelium Vitae, 2).
As Catholics, we are called to pray for peace, mourn the desecration of sacred spaces, and advocate for the protection of innocent lives. The Holy Family Church, named for the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, stands as a symbol of God’s love in a land torn by strife. Its wounding demands not only accountability but a renewed commitment to justice, mercy, and dialogue to end this cycle of violence.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Israel Times
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