At least 3 dead after Israel forces hit sole Catholic church in Gaza, Netanyahu says strike was a 'mistake'

Gaza's only Catholic church was bombed by Israeli forces in the morning of Jul. 17, leaving three dead and at least 10 injured, Al Jazeera reported.

Among the wounded, one is reportedly in critical condition and another two are in serious condition.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed regret about the incident, calling the strike "a mistake".

What happened

According to a statement by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the compound of the Holy Family Church in Gaza was struck by the Israeli army at about 10.20am on Jul. 17.

CNA reported that an Israeli tank shell had slammed directly into the church, but the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later said on X that fragments from a shell fired during other military activities in the area had accidentally hit the church.

The church had been sheltering hundreds of Christians and Muslims, as well as a number of children with disabilities amidst the raging Gaza War.

Among the dead were the church's 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman who was receiving social support from the church, AP News reported.

The church's parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli was also lightly wounded in the attack.

Images that emerged after the attack showed the church's external compound in ruins.

Inside the remains of the church, a solemn mood hung over the congregation as funerals were conducted for the deceased.

Catholic news site Catholic Arena said that Mass continued to be held on the same night of the attack in memory of those killed.

The cause of the incident is still under review, the IDF said.

'Stray ammunition'

Hours after the attack, the IDF reiterated that military forces are the main targets of their strikes.

"The IDF directs its strikes solely at military targets and makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures, and regrets any unintentional damage caused to them," they said.

Israel's Prime Minister's Office (PMO) also released a statement indicating that it "deeply regrets" the attack.

The PMO blamed the strike on a "stray ammunition", in line with the IDF's claim that the damage done on the church was "unintentional".

"Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful," the PMO said.

The Times of Israel reported that the statement was released under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had supposedly phoned Netanyahu "angrily" after the the attack.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had earlier called Trump's reaction over the phone call "not a positive reaction".

"It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic church, that's what the prime minister relayed to the president," she said.

This is the second time this month that Israel has said that attacks on civilians in Gaza were unintentional.

On Jul. 13, the IDF blamed a "technical error" for an airstrike that killed six Palestinian children who were collecting water in a refugee camp.

"Horrific war"

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem extended their condolences to the families of the deceased and wounded.

They also condemned the attack "of innocent civilians and of a sacred place", while acknowledging other attacks that have occured in Gaza over 21 months since the start of the war on Oct. 7.

"Death, suffering and destruction are everywhere," they said in a statement, adding "This horrific war must come to a complete end."

Pope Leo XIV also released a statement through the Vatican cardinal secretary, saying he was "deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack", though he did not mention the IDF directly.

He also renewed his call for an "immediate ceasefire", as well as "dialogue, reconciliation and enduring peace in the region."

Top images via m.saed.gaza/Instagram & Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem/X