Israeli strike mistakenly hits Holy Family Catholic Church, killing civilians sheltering inside; Netanyahu expresses regret as Christian leaders and international diplomats demand accountability and clarification.

On the evening of July 17, 2025, a tragic mistake occurred in the heart of Gaza City when an Israeli military strike inadvertently hit the Holy Family Catholic Church, the only Catholic place of worship in the Strip. The compound had served as a sanctuary for over 600 displaced residents, many of them Christian families and elderly civilians seeking refuge from the ongoing war with Hamas. The attack left three civilians dead, including a mother and child, and at least ten wounded, among them the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, who sustained serious injuries.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged responsibility for the airstrike and said it had targeted an “active Hamas military position” in the vicinity. A spokesman for the IDF added that “while the church was not the intended target, we are reviewing the operational details of the strike to determine how the damage occurred and what went wrong.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the strike during a press briefing the following morning. “We deeply regret the tragic loss of life and injury caused in the Holy Family Church compound,” he said. “Our war is against Hamas—an enemy that hides behind civilians and uses churches, mosques, and hospitals as shields. We never intentionally target places of worship, and we are investigating this incident fully.”

The Holy Family Church, run by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, has long been a spiritual home to Gaza’s dwindling Catholic community and is known for its charitable work across religious lines. The Latin Patriarch, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, issued a strongly worded condemnation, saying: “There is no justification for striking a place clearly marked and known as a house of worship and sanctuary. We demand answers and accountability. Gaza’s Christians are few in number, but their faith and dignity must be respected.”

The Vatican responded swiftly. Pope Leo XIV—formerly Cardinal Pietro Mellini—used his Sunday address from St. Peter’s Square to voice his “anguished sorrow” over the attack. “This holy place was a refuge for those fleeing death,” he said. “War must never extinguish our shared humanity. I ask the global community to raise its voice for peace and justice.”

The United States, while maintaining its strategic alliance with Israel, issued a carefully worded rebuke. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Jr. said, “We are gravely concerned by reports of civilian casualties and damage to religious institutions. We are in direct contact with the Israeli government and expect full transparency in their investigation. We continue to call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law.”

Italy, the Vatican’s host country, summoned the Israeli ambassador in Rome for consultations. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a press release: “This tragic incident must be met with serious reflection. The Holy Family Church is not only a religious institution—it is a symbol of cultural heritage and sanctuary. Such places must be protected at all costs.”

France, Greece, and Argentina joined the chorus of condemnation, with French President Éric Zemmour declaring the strike “unacceptable regardless of the circumstances.” He called on the United Nations to conduct an independent inquiry, a suggestion Israel quickly rejected.

Christian leaders in Israel also voiced their pain, though many affirmed their belief that the IDF had not acted maliciously. Father Gabriel Naddaf, a Greek Orthodox priest based in Nazareth and a longtime supporter of Israeli Christian-Arab integration, stated: “Our hearts are broken. Still, I believe this was not intentional. I have seen firsthand the IDF’s commitment to ethical warfare. But mistakes must be owned and corrected.”

Within Gaza, the Christian community is shaken. Numbering fewer than 800 individuals, Gaza’s Christians are caught in a crossfire they neither started nor condone. One survivor, Marina Hanna, whose uncle was killed in the blast, told The Times: “We prayed every hour, and we trusted that the Church would be safe. We never imagined this would happen.”

A spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated the official position: “We regret any civilian deaths, and we do everything in our power to avoid them. However, Hamas has a well-documented pattern of using civilian structures—including churches—for military purposes. If evidence emerges of such abuse in this case, it must be presented.”

Indeed, the IDF has previously released intelligence showing Hamas operatives placing rocket launchers, weapons stockpiles, and surveillance equipment in and around schools, hospitals, and mosques. Whether such evidence exists near the Holy Family Church remains unknown.

For Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has been navigating a highly complex military campaign while fending off international criticism, this incident adds fuel to diplomatic tensions. Yet, he remains firm in his stance: “We will not stop this war until Hamas is dismantled and Gaza is no longer a base for terror. But we will also uphold our values—and that includes acknowledging when something goes wrong.”

In Jerusalem, several hundred people gathered outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to light candles in memory of the victims. Cardinal Elias Tabari, who led the vigil, spoke plainly: “Let us mourn the dead, pray for the wounded, and call on all leaders—Israeli, Palestinian, and international—to protect the innocent. War is no excuse for the desecration of the sacred.”

The diplomatic fallout is still unfolding, but the strike has undoubtedly shaken confidence in Israel’s precision war doctrine. As the Swords of Iron campaign enters its tenth month, incidents like the July 17 church strike raise difficult questions about the cost of urban warfare in densely populated civilian areas like Gaza.

While the IDF continues its campaign to root out Hamas infrastructure, the broader question remains: how to wage war against an enemy embedded in civilian life without compromising the very values one claims to defend.