Israel says it 'deeply regrets' lethal strike on Catholic Church in Gaza

[ad_1] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu known as Pope Leo on Friday, the Vatican mentioned, a day after an Israeli strike on Gaza‘s sole Catholic church killed three people and injured a number of extra.

Through the name, the pope renewed his attraction for a ceasefire and an finish to the conflict in Gaza, and expressed his concern over the “dramatic” humanitarian state of affairs within the Palestinian enclave, a Vatican assertion mentioned.

Leo additionally careworn the pressing want to guard locations of worship, the trustworthy, and all folks within the Palestinian territories and Israel, the assertion added.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the best rating Catholic official in Jerusalem, in the meantime entered Gaza on Friday to deliver humanitarian assist and luxury to victims of Israel’s strike.

President Donald Trump known as Netanyahu to deal with the strike, the White Home mentioned on Thursday, including that Trump didn't react positively to the incident.

“It was not a optimistic response. He known as Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning to deal with the strikes on that church in Gaza,” the White Home spokeswoman advised reporters.

“And I perceive the prime minister agreed to place out a press release. It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic Church. That’s what the prime minister relayed to the president,” the White Home spokeswoman added.

A State Division spokeswoman individually added: “I feel its an understatement to say that he (Trump) was not pleased.” The State Division mentioned Washington requested Israel to probe the strike.

<img loading="lazy" src="https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2025-07/250718-gaza-church-mb-1016-e6336e.jpg" alt="An Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church killed three people on July 17, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, as Israel said it "never targets" religious sites and regretted any harm to civilians. " height="1667" width="2500"/> Christian Palestinian mourners bid farewell to Saad Salameh and Foumia Ayyad, killed within the Israeli strike Thursday. Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP - Getty Photographs The Israeli army mentioned it was trying into the incident. Israel’s Overseas Ministry mentioned the outcomes of the investigation could be printed. Netanyahu mentioned Israel “deeply regrets {that a} stray ammunition hit Gaza‘s Holy Household Church.”

Israeli forces killed a minimum of 27 folks in assaults within the Gaza Strip on Thursday, together with the three killed within the church strike, in response to medics and church officers.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the small parish, condemned “this concentrating on of harmless civilians and of a sacred place,” saying two girls and one man had been killed within the assault on the Holy Household Church.

In an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera day by day, Pizzaballa mentioned a Catholic presence would stay in Gaza “no matter occurs,” and expressed doubts about Israel’s feedback that the strike was a mistake.

“We're not a goal. They are saying it was an error. Even when everyone right here believes it wasn’t,” the cardinal mentioned.

This can be very uncommon for overseas officers to be allowed entry into Gaza, as Israel has primarily sealed its borders. Pizzaballa was accompanied by Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The 2 non secular leaders introduced “tons of of tons of meals provides in addition to first assist kits and urgently wanted medical tools,” Pizzaballa’s Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem mentioned in a press release.

The help is supposed not just for Gaza’s small Christian group however for “as many households as potential,” the Patriarchate mentioned, including it additionally ensured the evacuation of these injured within the church strike.