An Israeli strike on a Gaza Catholic church resulted in casualties. Israel attributed the strike to a 'deviation of munitions'. The incident has led to international scrutiny and condemnation. The church was providing shelter to displaced Gazans.
5 months ago
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has concluded that an accidental "deviation of munitions" led to the deadly strike on Holy Family Church in Gaza on July 17, 2025 2 3 4. According to IDF military spokesman Nadav Shoshani, an inquiry by the Southern Command revealed the church was unintentionally hit during operational activity in Gaza City 2 3. The IDF stated it directs its military strikes solely at military targets and works to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure, including religious institutions, expressing regret for any harm caused 2 3 4.
The strike on Holy Family Church resulted in three civilian deaths and multiple injuries, with reports varying slightly on the number of injured, from nine to ten, including the pastor, Father Gabriel Romanelli 2 3 4. The IDF's statement mentioned damage to the structure and injuries but did not explicitly refer to the three fatalities 2 3 4. Two severely injured victims were later transferred to Israeli hospitals for treatment 4.
Holy Family Church, Gaza's only Catholic parish, has served as a shelter for over 600 people, including Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Muslims, since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October 2023 2 3. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem stated that while the IDF claimed to have facilitated humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, for the church, the aid had not yet been delivered as of July 23 2 3 4. The Patriarchate clarified that aid would be distributed once it reached its destination 4.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem learned of the inquiry's findings through media reports and emphasized that the results underscore the "grave dangers" of military operations near religious and civilian sites 2 3 4. They reiterated the vital importance of upholding international humanitarian law 2 3 4. Despite the IDF's admission of error, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, suggested that the strike might have been intentional, stating, "They say it was an error. Even if everybody here believes it wasn’t" 2 3. Cardinal Pizzaballa, who visited the parish after the strike, called on international leaders to actively work towards ending the conflict 4.
How does the Church respond to violence against innocents?
The Catholic Church unequivocally condemns violence against innocent human beings, considering it a grave moral evil that violates God's law and human dignity . This teaching is consistently upheld by Sacred Scripture, Church Tradition, and the Magisterium .
The Church's response to violence against innocents can be understood through several key principles:
The Church teaches that the commandment "You shall not kill" has absolute value when it refers to an innocent person . This applies especially to weak and defenseless human beings, who find their ultimate defense in the binding force of God's commandment . The deliberate decision to deprive an innocent human being of life is always morally evil and can never be justified, whether as an end in itself or as a means to a good end . It is a grave act of disobedience to the moral law and to God Himself, contradicting the fundamental virtues of justice and charity .
The Church explicitly condemns various forms of violence against innocents:
The Church emphasizes that the absolute inviolability of innocent human life is a moral truth based on natural law, Sacred Scripture, and Tradition . Before the moral norm prohibiting the direct taking of innocent human life, all human beings are absolutely equal, with no privileges or exceptions . A legal system that violates the basic right to life on the grounds of choice is fundamentally flawed . The inalienable right to life is a constitutive element of civil society and its legislation, and the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of a child's rights from conception .