Israel strikes Gaza church, killing 3 and wounding priest who was near late pope

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the one Catholic church within the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing three folks and wounding 10 others, together with the parish priest, in response to church officers. The late Pope Francis, who died in April, had often spoken to the priest in regards to the scenario within the war-ravaged territory.

The shelling of the Holy Household Catholic Church in Gaza additionally broken the church compound, the place a whole bunch of Palestinians have been sheltering from the 21-month Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel issued a uncommon apology and stated it was investigating.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his name for a direct ceasefire in response to the assault.

In a telegram of condolences for the victims, Leo expressed “his profound hope for dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region.” The pope stated he was “deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack,” and expressed his closeness to the wounded priest, Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, and the whole parish.

A whole bunch of individuals sheltered on the church

The church compound was sheltering each Christians and Muslims, together with quite a lot of kids with disabilities, in response to Fadel Naem, performing director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which acquired the casualties.

The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem stated the parish’s 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old girl receiving psychosocial assist inside a Caritas tent within the church compound had been killed within the assault. Parish priest Romanelli was flippantly wounded.

“We were struck in the church while all the people there were elders, innocent people and children,” stated Shady Abu Dawood, whose mom was wounded by shrapnel to her head. “We love peace and call for it, and this is a brutal, unjustified action by the Israeli occupation.”

The Israeli army stated it was investigating. It stated it “makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them.”

In a uncommon transfer, the Israeli International Ministry posted an apology on social media. “Israel expresses deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty,” it stated.

Israel has repeatedly struck colleges, shelters, hospitals and different civilian buildings, accusing Hamas militants of sheltering inside and blaming them for civilian deaths. Palestinians say nowhere has felt protected since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni blamed Israel for the strike on the church. “The attacks on the civilian population that Israel has been demonstrating for months are unacceptable,” she stated.

Church compounds have been struck earlier than

The church is only a stone’s throw from Al-Ahli Hospital, Naem stated, noting that the realm round each the church and the hospital has been repeatedly struck for over every week.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which additionally has a church in Gaza that beforehand sustained harm from Israeli strikes, stated the Holy Household Church was sheltering 600 displaced folks, together with many kids, and 54 folks with disabilities. It stated the constructing suffered vital harm.

Concentrating on a holy website “is a blatant affront to human dignity and a grave violation of the sanctity of life and the inviolability of religious sites, which are meant to serve as safe havens during times of war,” the Church stated in an announcement.

Individually, one other individual was killed and 17 wounded Thursday in a strike in opposition to two colleges sheltering displaced folks within the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza, in response to Al-Awda Hospital. The Israeli army didn’t instantly touch upon the strike.

The Gaza Well being Ministry stated that over the previous 24 hours, native hospitals acquired the our bodies of 94 folks killed in Israeli strikes and one other 367 wounded.

Pope Francis spoke virtually each day with Gaza church

Within the final 18 months of his life, Francis would usually name the lone Catholic church within the Gaza Strip to see how folks huddled inside had been dealing with a devastating conflict.

Francis had repeatedly criticized Israel’s wartime conduct, and final 12 months instructed that allegations of genocide in Gaza — which Israel has rejected as a “blood libel” — needs to be investigated. The late pope additionally met with the households of Israeli hostages and known as for his or her launch.

Just one,000 Christians dwell in Gaza, an overwhelmingly Muslim territory, in response to the U.S. State Division’s worldwide spiritual freedom report for 2024. Most are Greek Orthodox.

The Holy Land’s Christian inhabitants has dwindled in latest a long time as many have emigrated to flee conflict and battle or to hunt higher alternatives overseas. Native Christian leaders have just lately denounced assaults by Israeli settlers and Jewish extremists.

Ceasefire talks proceed

There was little seen progress in months of oblique talks between Israel and Hamas geared toward a brand new ceasefire and hostage launch settlement, after Israel ended an earlier truce in March.

In keeping with an Israeli official aware of the small print, Israel is displaying “flexibility” on among the points which have challenged negotiators, together with Israel’s presence in among the safety corridors the army has carved into the territory.

The official, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of they had been discussing ongoing negotiations, stated Israel has proven some willingness to compromise on the Morag Hall, which cuts throughout southern Gaza. Nonetheless, different points stay, together with the listing of Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel and commitments to finish the conflict.

The official says there are indicators of optimism however there will not be a deal instantly.

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 folks, principally civilians, within the Oct. 7 assault and kidnapped 251 folks, most of whom have since been launched in ceasefire agreements or different offers. Fifty hostages are nonetheless being held, lower than half of them believed to be alive

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 58,600 Palestinians, in response to Gaza’s Well being Ministry, which has stated ladies and youngsters make up greater than half of the useless. It doesn’t distinguish between civilians and militants in its tally.

The ministry is a part of the Hamas-run authorities however is led by medical professionals. The United Nations and different worldwide organizations take into account its figures to be essentially the most dependable rely of conflict casualties.