Shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza resulted in casualties among those sheltering there, including Christians and Muslims. Pope Leo XIV condemned the attack and called for an immediate ceasefire. Israel expressed regret over the incident, labeling it an accident and stated it would investigate. The church compound provided refuge for hundreds escaping conflict, with casualties including a janitor and an elderly woman. Local officials and affected individuals emphasized the need for peace and described the attack as a brutal act.
"We were struck in the church while all the people there were elders, innocent people and children," said Shady Abu Dawood, whose mother was wounded by shrapnel to her head. "We love peace and call for it, and this is a brutal, unjustified action by the Israeli occupation."
The Israeli military said an initial assessment indicated that "fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly." It said it was still investigating.
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