An Israeli tank shell struck Gaza’s Holy Family Church on July 17, killing three people and injuring 10 others, including parish priest Fr. Gabriel Romanelli.

According to initial reports, the church compound — Gaza’s only Catholic church and a site that received regular calls from the late Pope Francis until his death in 2023 — was sheltering around 500 displaced Christians when the shell hit. The blast impacted areas within the compound where civilians had gathered.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, confirmed that four of the wounded remain in critical condition, with two facing life-threatening injuries.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that fragments from one of its tank shells “mistakenly” hit the church during nearby operations, stating that “the cause of the incident is under review.”

On the same day, Israeli forces launched broader attacks across Gaza, killing at least 32 Palestinians, 25 of them in Gaza City. Within 24 hours, the total reported death toll exceeded 90, according to Al Jazeera.

Pope Leo XIV expressed sadness over the casualties in a July 17 statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “I am deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack on the Holy Family Catholic Church in #Gaza. I assure the parish community of my spiritual closeness.”

The pontiff also reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire, stating “only dialogue and reconciliation can ensure enduring peace.”

The Holy Family Church incident marks the second known attack on a Christian site in Gaza since the conflict escalated. In October 2023, Israeli airstrikes hit St. Porphyrius Church — Gaza’s oldest — killing civilians sheltering inside.

In a July 16 report by Al Jazeera, at least 58,873 Palestinian deaths caused by Israeli attacks were recorded since October 2023, including 17,600 children.