Father Carlos (center) from the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, assists casualties injured in an apparent Israeli strike on the church at the city's Al-Ahli Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, July 17, 2025. OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP/Getty

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, said Thursday that three people were killed and several others injured in an Israeli strike on the church. The Parish Priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli was lightly wounded in the strike, the patriarchate confirmed.

"This morning, at approximately 10:20 a.m., the Comp(o)und of the Holy Family in Gaza, belonging to the Latin Patriarchate, was struck by the Israeli army. As of this hour, three individuals lost their lives as a result of the injuries sustained and ten others were wounded, including one in critical condition and two in serious condition," the patriarchate said in a statement.

The patriarchate said it condemned "this tragedy and this targeting of innocent civilians and of a sacred place."

"However, this tragedy is not greater or more terrible than the many others that have befallen Gaza," the statement continued. "Many other innocent civilians have also been harmed, displaced and killed. Death, suffering and destruction are everywhere. The time has come for leaders to raise their voices and to do all what is necessary in order to stop this tragedy which is humanly and morally, unjustified. This horrific war must come to a complete end-so that we may commence the long work of restoring human dignity."

In a statement provided by the Church in Rome, Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack" on the church, adding a renewal of his "call for an immediate ceasefire."

Earlier on Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said "Israeli raids on Gaza" had hit the Church of the Holy Family, condemning "the attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months" as unacceptable.

"No military action can justify such behavior," the Italian leader said on social media.

The Israel Defense Forces said it was "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," the military said in the statement, which it shared on social media.

Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "Israel expresses deep sorrow over the damage to the Holy Family Church in Gaza City and over any civilian casualty," and said the result of the IDF's investigation would be "published transparently."

"Israel never targets churches or religious sites and regrets any harm to a religious site or to uninvolved civilians," the foreign ministry said.

The Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed earlier that Romanelli, the Parish Priest was among those wounded, and that "the Church sustained damage."

The late Pope Francis would regularly call Romanelli to check in with him and the people staying in the church during the war in Gaza. In his final public appearance, one day before his death, Francis called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza as well as the release of Israeli hostages.

CBS News' team in Gaza saw Romanelli being brought to the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City. He appeared to have sustained an injury to his right leg.

The Italian Catholic news agency SIR reported earlier that the parish had been housing around 500 displaced Christians, but Fadel Naem, the acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, told The Associated Press there were both Christians and Muslims sheltering at the church, including a number of children with disabilities.


Parish Priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, receives care after he was injured in an apparent Israeli strike on the church, at the city's Al-Ahli Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, July 17, 2025. OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP/Getty

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