Priests visit catholic church bombed by Israel

Leaders from the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Church have visited the only Catholic church in Gaza. This follows the bombing of the church yesterday, which killed three people and wounded at least 10 others.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, together with Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the Holy Family Church to show their support for Gaza’s Catholics, according to a statement from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The two expressed “the shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land and their concern for the community of Gaza,” the Patriarchate - which has jurisdiction for Roman Catholics in Gaza - said. The two also brought in food aid and medical supplies to the territory, which is currently facing a massive humanitarian crisis. The Patriarchate also said the leaders ensured those injured in the Israeli attack would be evacuated outside Gaza for treatment.

The visit is quite uncommon due to Israel's strict regulation of entry and exit from the territory.

How does Israel respond?

On Friday, Pope Leo had a phone conversation with Netanyahu, during which the pontiff emphasized the significance of safeguarding places of worship, according to the Vatican.

In the call, Leo repeated his appeal for a ceasefire to be established between the conflicting parties in Gaza.

Pope Leo “again expressed his concern for the dramatic humanitarian situation of the population in Gaza, whose heartbreaking price is paid especially by children, the elderly and the sick,” according to the statement.

Netanyahu responded by saying that “Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza’s Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy.”

“Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites,” his office added in a statement.

Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump in a phone call that the church incident was a “mistake,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing Thursday. Asked about Trump’s view on the strike, Leavitt described it as “not a positive reaction.”

The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged it hit the church “mistakenly.”

“An initial inquiry into reports regarding injured individuals in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, suggests that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly,” the IDF said in a statement on Thursday.

“The cause of the incident is under review.”

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International criticism has arisen over the attack, including from the US, a crucial ally of Israel, as the offensive in Gaza continues unabated.

The Palestinian health ministry reports that almost 59,000 people have died in the conflict, and ceasefire negotiations are still at an impasse.