Israeli military: attack on church in Gaza was an accident

It stated that the Catholic church had been accidentally hit due to an "unintentional munitions deviation".

The guidelines for the use of ammunition in the vicinity of religious buildings, shelters and other sensitive locations were then further clarified, according to an Israeli military spokesperson. He reiterated that the Israeli armed forces were trying to minimize damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure. Nevertheless, civilians in Gaza continue to be killed in the conflict.

In the attack a week ago, which hit the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in the center of the city of Gaza, three people were killed and nine were injured, some of them seriously. According to the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, many people who had lost their homes in the war had sought refuge in the church.

Following the incident, Pope Leo XIV once again called for an immediate ceasefire. The Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem condemned the attack on civilians and a holy site in the strongest possible terms. According to a White House spokeswoman, US President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident.