Recent escalations in the Israel-Hamas conflict have led to tragic loss of life, with an Israeli strike on a Catholic church in Gaza City resulting in three fatalities and prompting international calls for peace.
Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza Church, Killing Three Amid Stalled Cease-Fire Talks
Israeli Airstrike Hits Gaza Church, Killing Three Amid Stalled Cease-Fire Talks
Tragedy strikes as tensions rise in the region following a devastating attack on a holy site.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East took a grim turn on Thursday as an Israeli airstrike targeted the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City, killing three individuals and injuring at least six, including the parish priest. Eyewitness accounts indicate that several hundred Palestinians were seeking refuge within the church compound when the attack occurred around 10:10 a.m., causing extensive damage and chaos.
Farid Jubran from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem expressed uncertainty about the type of munition used, whether air-dropped or tank-fired. In response, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed condolences and stated that the military is investigating the incident. Following the tragedy, Pope Leo XIV issued a call for an immediate cease-fire, emphasizing the urgent need to halt the violence in Gaza.
Current negotiations for a cease-fire, supported by the U.S., have made little headway, and Israeli military actions continue unabated. Reports from the Gaza Health Ministry indicate that the death toll has escalated beyond 55,000 since the conflict reignited after a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Recent weeks alone have seen over 7,750 Palestinian deaths, with hundreds more documented in hospitals facing dire shortages of food and medical supplies.
Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, condemned the Israeli strikes on civilians as "unacceptable," asserting that no military justification can excuse such actions. Among the deceased in the church strike were Saad Salameh, the church janitor, and two others—Fumayya Ayyad and Najwa Abu Daoud—whose lives were cut short in the tragic event.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza, international leaders and organizations continue to call for a resolution to the conflict, urging for an end to the suffering endured by the civilian population.
Farid Jubran from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem expressed uncertainty about the type of munition used, whether air-dropped or tank-fired. In response, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed condolences and stated that the military is investigating the incident. Following the tragedy, Pope Leo XIV issued a call for an immediate cease-fire, emphasizing the urgent need to halt the violence in Gaza.
Current negotiations for a cease-fire, supported by the U.S., have made little headway, and Israeli military actions continue unabated. Reports from the Gaza Health Ministry indicate that the death toll has escalated beyond 55,000 since the conflict reignited after a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Recent weeks alone have seen over 7,750 Palestinian deaths, with hundreds more documented in hospitals facing dire shortages of food and medical supplies.
Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, condemned the Israeli strikes on civilians as "unacceptable," asserting that no military justification can excuse such actions. Among the deceased in the church strike were Saad Salameh, the church janitor, and two others—Fumayya Ayyad and Najwa Abu Daoud—whose lives were cut short in the tragic event.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza, international leaders and organizations continue to call for a resolution to the conflict, urging for an end to the suffering endured by the civilian population.
