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Israeli strike on Gaza church kills two and injures priest Pope Francis called daily Israeli strike on Gaza church kills two and injures priest Pope Francis called daily
(about 4 hours later)
Pope Leo renews ceasefire call after strike on territory’s only Catholic church injures children and clergy Pope Leo renews ceasefire call after strike on territory’s only Catholic church kills parish’s 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman
An Israeli strike has hit the only Catholic church in Gaza, killing two people and injuring several others including the parish priest, who used to receive daily calls from the late Pope Francis.An Israeli strike has hit the only Catholic church in Gaza, killing two people and injuring several others including the parish priest, who used to receive daily calls from the late Pope Francis.
“Two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike by the Israeli army that hit the Holy Family compound this morning,” the Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement.“Two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike by the Israeli army that hit the Holy Family compound this morning,” the Latin patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement.
Before his death in April, the former pope would call Gabriel Romanelli, an Argentinian, every evening to discuss the war in Gaza. He began the routine on 9 October 2023, two days after the attacks on Israel by Hamas, as a way to express solidarity during the conflict. The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the victims were Saad Salameh, the parish’s 60-year-old janitor, and Fumayya Ayyad, an 84-year-old woman who was receiving psychological support in a Carita tent within the church’s compound when the blast occurred.
“Both were critically wounded and transported to al-Mamadani hospital, but due to the severe lack of medical resources and blood units in Gaza, they tragically passed away,” the charity said. “Their deaths are a painful reminder of the impossible conditions faced by civilians and medical personnel under siege. May Saad and Fumayya rest in peace. We carry their memory with us.”
Before his death in April, the former pope would call Gabriel Romanelli, an Argentinian, every evening. He began the routine on 9 October 2023, two days after the attacks on Israel by Hamas ignited the devastating war in Gaza.
Reuters footage from the hospital showed Romanelli to be lightly injured, with a bandaged left leg but able to walk.Reuters footage from the hospital showed Romanelli to be lightly injured, with a bandaged left leg but able to walk.
Witnesses said the church appeared have been hit by Israeli tank shelling. Witnesses said the church appeared to have been hit by Israeli tank shelling.
Pope Leo XIV said in a telegram sent by the Vatican’s secretary of state in his name that he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack” and that he was renewing his calls for an immediate ceasefire.Pope Leo XIV said in a telegram sent by the Vatican’s secretary of state in his name that he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack” and that he was renewing his calls for an immediate ceasefire.
In a statement, the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said: “The Israeli raids on Gaza have also hit the Holy Family church. The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such behaviour.”In a statement, the Italian prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, said: “The Israeli raids on Gaza have also hit the Holy Family church. The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such behaviour.”
The church was sheltering Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Dr Fadel Naim, the acting director of al-Ahli Arab hospital, which received the wounded. At least two people were in a critical condition, Naem said, and among the others injured were a child with disabilities, two women and an elderly person. Elizabeth Funnell, the Middle East representative for the Catholic aid agency Cafod, added: “We once again call on the international community to act urgently to protect civilians, places of worship, and humanitarian spaces, and to ensure that people in Gaza have access to the most basic right: the chance to survive.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were “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 church was sheltering Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Dr Fadel Naim, the acting director of al-Ahli Arab hospital, which received the wounded. The others injured were a child with disabilities, two women and an elderly person.
The Israel Defense Forces said they were “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 IDF makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them,” its statement added.“The IDF makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them,” its statement added.
The Holy Family church in Gaza spoke in a separate statement of “a number of injured, some in critical condition”.The Holy Family church in Gaza spoke in a separate statement of “a number of injured, some in critical condition”.
Dozens of Palestinians were killed and wounded during Israeli airstrikes on several areas of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, including four who were killed in an attack on a home close to the Imam al-Shafi’i school in Zeitoun , a district south-east of Gaza City. Dozens of Palestinians were killed and wounded during Israeli airstrikes on several areas of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, including four who were killed in an attack on a home close to the Imam al-Shafi’i school in Zeitoun, a district south-east of Gaza City.
After Francis’s death, Romanelli, who has served as the parish priest since 2019, told the Guardian: “Even after he was hospitalised, he continued calling to check on us. Our grief is deep because we lost someone we felt had become a member of our church.”After Francis’s death, Romanelli, who has served as the parish priest since 2019, told the Guardian: “Even after he was hospitalised, he continued calling to check on us. Our grief is deep because we lost someone we felt had become a member of our church.”
Francis was a strong advocate of ending the war. In his last public address on Easter Sunday, he condemned the “deplorable humanitarian situation” in Gaza and implored Israel and Hamas to “call for a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people, that aspires to a future of peace”.Francis was a strong advocate of ending the war. In his last public address on Easter Sunday, he condemned the “deplorable humanitarian situation” in Gaza and implored Israel and Hamas to “call for a ceasefire, release the hostages and come to the aid of a starving people, that aspires to a future of peace”.