Two women have tragically lost their lives, and several others were injured when a Catholic parish in the Gaza Strip was subjected to a raid. This information was relayed by doctors at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Thursday.
This development follows earlier reports that the Holy Family Church, the singular Catholic Church within the Palestinian enclave, sustained damage from the attack. At this time, the Vatican has not provided a response to requests for comment. The Israeli Defense Forces, however, have indicated they are investigating the incident.
Italy’s ANSA news agency reported that six individuals sustained serious injuries, while Father Gabriele Romanelli, the parish priest and a regular correspondent to the late Pope Francis on matters related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, suffered minor leg injuries.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, in a recent statement, confirmed that the Holy Family Church was indeed a target of Israeli raids on Gaza. She strongly condemned the ongoing attacks against the civilian population that have been carried out by Israel for several months, asserting that no military action can justify such behavior.
This raises important questions about the treatment of religious institutions in conflict zones and the necessity of safeguarding civilian populations. The significance of this should not be overlooked. As we await further information, the quest for truth and accuracy remains paramount.