Netanyahu admits to wrongfully bombing a church in Gaza after a call with Trump
July 18, 202579 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
Font Size
16
In a new tragic development, the compound of the Holy Family Church in Gaza was hit by an Israeli strike that killed three people and injured others, amid shock and anger locally and internationally.
The White House announced on Thursday, July 17, that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed US President Donald Trump that the attack on the Catholic church in Gaza was a "mistake".
This came during a phone call between Trump and Netanyahu after the US President expressed a "negative reaction" to the incident.
White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt stated that Netanyahu apologized for the strike, describing the incident as a "tragedy" following the church being hit by shrapnel.
Meanwhile, the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem confirmed the death of three people in the attack on the compound of the Holy Family near 10:20 AM local time.
The Patriarchate explained in an official statement that the church was targeted by the Israeli army, confirming that the church had been a refuge for Catholic and Orthodox Christians since the outbreak of the war in October 2023. Eyewitnesses saw an Israeli tank shelling the site.
Israel, in turn, expressed its "deep regret" for the damage to the church and the civilians injured, stating that it does not target religious sites and is investigating the incident. The Israeli Foreign Ministry also stated on the "X" platform that targeting churches is unacceptable and expressed regret for any harm to religious sites or civilians not involved in the conflict.
It is worth noting that the late Pope Francis closely monitored the situation of the only Catholic church in Gaza, observing how individuals there dealt with the repercussions of the war during the last 18 months of his life and calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
This incident sheds light once again on the difficult humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where bombing and destruction continue amidst international efforts to find solutions to halt the escalation.
