The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the Catholic Church of the Holy Household in Gaza Metropolis, stated Thursday that a number of individuals had been injured in “a raid” on the church, together with the Parish Priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli. The patriarchate later stated two individuals had been killed within the incident.
“With deep sorrow the Latin Patriarchate can now affirm that two individuals had been killed on account of an obvious strike by the Israeli military that hit the Holy Household Compound this morning,” the patriarchate stated in a press release. “We pray for the remainder of their souls and for the tip of this barbaric warfare. Nothing can justify the concentrating on of harmless civilians.”
Earlier on Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated “Israeli raids on Gaza” had hit the Church of the Holy Household, condemning “the assaults in opposition to the civilian inhabitants that Israel has been finishing up for months” as unacceptable.
“No army motion can justify such habits,” the Italian chief stated on social media.
The Israel Protection Forces stated it was “conscious of stories concerning harm brought on to the Holy Household Church in Gaza Metropolis and casualties on the scene. The circumstances of the incident are beneath overview.”
“The IDF makes each possible effort to mitigate hurt to civilians and civilian constructions, together with spiritual websites, and regrets any harm brought on to them,” the army stated within the assertion, which it shared on social media.
Israel’s Overseas Ministry stated in a press release that “Israel expresses deep sorrow over the harm to the Holy Household Church in Gaza Metropolis and over any civilian casualty,” and stated the results of the IDF’s investigation can be “revealed transparently.”
“Israel by no means targets church buildings or spiritual websites and regrets any hurt to a non secular website or to uninvolved civilians,” the international ministry stated.
OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP/Getty
Earlier Thursday, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem stated a number of individuals had been injured within the strike, together with Father Gabriel Romanelli, the Parish Priest of the church, and that “the Church sustained harm.”
CBS Information’ staff in Gaza noticed Romanelli being dropped at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza Metropolis. He appeared to have sustained an harm to his proper leg.
The Italian Catholic information company SIR reported earlier that six individuals had been injured on the church, two of whom it stated had been in crucial situation.
It stated the parish had been housing round 500 displaced Christians, however Fadel Naem, the performing director of Al-Ahli Hospital, informed The Related Press there have been each Christians and Muslims sheltering on the church, together with quite a few youngsters with disabilities.
OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP/Getty 
The late Pope Francis would frequently name Romanelli to examine in with him and the individuals staying within the church throughout the warfare in Gaza. In his last public look, at some point earlier than his demise, Francis known as for a direct ceasefire in Gaza in addition to the discharge of Israeli hostages.
