Situation Update: Israeli Shelling of Gaza’s Latin Church
«Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted» (Matthew 5:4)
On Thursday, 17 July 2025, Israeli forces shelled the Holy Family Latin Church in Gaza, killing three Palestinian Christians: two women and one man. Following the blast, I reached out to Mousa Ayyad, Director of the newly-established Princess Basmah Center at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital—a critical facility providing physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, general medical care, and psychological support to Gaza’s most vulnerable. My call was meant to check on his safety after the church attack and offer solidarity. I was shattered to learn that among the three innocent lives lost was his own aunt, Fomiyeh Ayyad—a beloved mother, caregiver, and community member. At least two others sustained critical injuries—one, Suheil, is currently hospitalized in Ashdod under his mother’s care, while another remains at Al-Ahli Arab Anglican Hospital, awaiting medical evacuation. Several others, including Gaza’s Catholic parish priest, Fr. Gabriele Romanelli, suffered minor injuries.
Church Leaders’ Visit to Gaza
Following the attack, Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited the site and stated:
“This is not war—this is terrorism. To target a church where families sought refuge, where children slept, violates every principle of humanity and international law. The world cannot remain silent.”
Similarly, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III declared during his visit:
“The bombing of a house of God is a sin before both heaven and earth. We stand with our people in Gaza—their resilience is a testament to faith amidst this inhumanity.”
Indeed, to target a church where families sought refuge violates every principle of humanity. As Scripture warns: ‘Do not destroy the work of God’ (Romans 14:20). When a church falls, humanity falls with it.
International media, including Reuters and Al Jazeera, reported on the strike, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of chaos as worshipers scrambled for safety. The Associated Press noted that the church had been sheltering displaced families, raising further concerns about Israel’s adherence to proportionality in military operations. The Vatican News condemned the attack, calling it an «unjustifiable assault on a sanctuary of peace».
Joseph Hazboun
Regional Director