Jerusalem’s Latin patriarchy, who oversees the Catholic Church of the holy family in Gaza city, said on Thursday that many people were injured in “a raid on the church, including Parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanli. Patriarch later said that two people were killed in the incident.
“Latin patriarchy with deep grief can now confirm that two persons were killed as a result of a clear strike by the Israeli army colliding with the Holy Family Complex this morning,” Pitrisatta said in a statement. “We pray for the rest of his soul and for the end of this barbaric war. Nothing can rightly hold the targeting of innocent citizens.”
Earlier on Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said “raids on Israeli” killed the Church of the Holi family, “as a condemnation of attacks against the civilian population that Israel is carrying out of months” as unacceptable.
“Any military action cannot justify such behavior,” Italian leader Said on social media,
Israel defense forces said that it was “aware of reports about the damage caused to the Holy Family Church in Gaza city and there were a number of casualties at the scene. The circumstances of the incident are being reviewed.”
The army said in a statement, “IDF makes every effort to reduce the loss to citizens and civil structures, including religious places, and they regret any loss.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that “Israel expresses deep grief to the Holy Family Church in Gaza city and more than any citizen casualties,” and said that the IDF investigation will be “transparently published”.
The Ministry of External Affairs said, “Israel never targets church or religious places and does not cause any harm to the religious site or to unleash citizens,” said the Ministry of External Affairs.
Omar al-Qatta/AFP/Getty 
Earlier on Thursday, Jerusalem’s patriarch said that many people were injured in the strike, in which Father Gabriel Romanli, Church’s Parish priest, and “Church had damaged.”
The CBS News team in Gaza noticed that Romanli was brought to Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza city. She was hurt by her right leg.
Italian Catholic news agency Sir said earlier that six people were injured in the church, two of whom said it was in critical condition.
It said that Parish was residence of around 500 displaced Christians, but the acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, Fadle, told The Associated Press that the church had both Christians and Muslims, including many children with disabilities.
Omar al-Qatta/AFP/Getty 
Late Pope Francis will regularly call Romanli regularly to investigate people living in the church and people living in the church during the war in Gaza. In his last public presence, a day before his death, Francis called for the release of Israeli hostages along with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
