Israel says it 'accidentally' attacked Gaza's sole Catholic Church

The Israeli military on Wednesday, 23 July, has claimed a church in Gaza was struck accidentally.

The Holy Family Church in Gaza City was struck last week by an Israeli shell, an attack that killed three, wounded 10 and damaged the church's compound.

Parish priest, several others injured as Israel’s airstrikes hit Gaza church

VIDEO of Cardinal Pizzaballa at Gaza's Catholic Church Praying the Rosary among Children and Faithful
(Source: FB Holy Family Church in Gaza) pic.twitter.com/cTwBwCDyYy

— Catholic News World (@catholicnews1) July 18, 2025

The military said an internal inquiry found the church was hit after an “unintentional deviation of munitions”.

The strike drew condemnation from Pope Leo XIV and US President Donald Trump and prompted statements of regret from Israel.

Holy Family is the only Catholic church in Gaza. Top church leaders from the Holy Land visited the site a day after the incident and said they encountered a Gaza “almost totally destroyed”.

The bombing of the Church of the Holy Family—the only Catholic parish in Gaza—is yet another brazen and murderous attack by Israel in violation of international law. Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pizzaballa himself has questioned the sincerity of Prime Minister Netanyahu's words, who… pic.twitter.com/mmQEwdMyIV

— Arcivescovo Carlo Maria Viganò (@CarloMVigano) July 18, 2025

UN chief condemns deadly Israeli attack on Gaza church