At least two people have dead This Thursday for a Israeli attack against the Church of the Sagrada Familia of the city of Gazathe Unique Católica throughout the strip.
It has resulted Wounded a priest, Father Gabriel Romanelliwhich has suffered minor injuries after a bombing occurred when inside the temple There were about 400 peopleaccording to Gaza’s civil defense, mostly displaced people looking for refugeEuropa Press details.
Father Gabriel is a figure close to the late Pope Franciswith whom he maintained constant contact about the situation of his community and Gaza since the beginning of the Israeli offensive
“The Church has suffered damage“He said in a statement published in his Facebook account. The Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, stressed that the place has been reached by the shot of a combat car.
“Israel’s defense forces They say it was a mistake, but we are not sure about it. The Church has been reached directly, “said the cardenal Pizzaballaas Vatican News has collected.
In this regard, the Israeli army Make sure “reviewing“What calls”the circumstances of the incident“.” Israel’s defense forces carry out all possible efforts to reduce damage to civilians and civil structures, including religious places, and regret any damage caused to them, “adds the body on their social networks.
He Pope Leo XIV He has expressed his “deep sadness” for “the loss of lives and wounded because of the military attack” against the Church and has made a new call to “A HIGH IMMEDIATE FIRE“In Gaza, according to a telegram published by the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Pietro Parolin.
The Pontiff has transferred to Romanelli and “to the entire” Christian community in the Palestinian enclave his “spiritual closeness”, while expressed by his “deep hope“For” a dialoguea reconciliation and one lasting peace In the region, “according to the aforementioned telegram, collected by the Latin patriarchy of Jerusalem on Facebook.
Cáritas Jerusalem has specified that the event has taken place around 10:10 am (local time) and has detailed that the place was “A sanctuary for displaced civilians“. “The Explosion took place near the cross On the roof of the Church, expanding shrapnel and helps all over the patio, “he said in a statement on Facebook.
“During the last week, the father Gabriel Romanelli asked people to remain inside their rooms because attacks in the surroundings and military operations had caused The area was increasingly dangerous. Yesterday the threat was especially serious due to the presence of Israeli combat cars near the Church complex and the continuous bombings in the surroundings, “he said.
For its part, the Prime Minister of Italy, Georgia MeloniHe has denounced that “Israeli bombings against Gaza have affected the Church of the Sagrada Familia.” “The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify this attitude“He said in his account on the social network X.
With the last attacks on Thursday, Tel Aviv’s offensive against Gaza, launched in response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which left some 1,200 dead and about 250 kidnapped, According to the Israeli government, it has left to date near 58,600 dead Palestinians, according to Hamasalthough it is feared that the figure is greater.
