Israeli Tank Shell Hits Catholic Church in Gaza, Leaves Several Injured

A Catholic church sheltering displaced civilians in northern Gaza was struck by an Israeli tank shell, leaving multiple people seriously injured, including a parish priest, according to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Speaking to Vatican News, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said the Holy Family Church was directly hit by Israeli fire. “What we know for sure is that a tank—according to the IDF, by mistake—struck the church directly. Four people are seriously wounded; two of them are in very serious condition and their lives are in grave danger,” he said.

Photos and video obtained by the BBC reportedly show significant damage to the church building, including shattered windows and a damaged roof.

The church had been housing roughly 600 displaced people, many of them children and 54 individuals with special needs. Most had taken refuge in the church since October 2023, when the ongoing conflict escalated. Churches are internationally recognized as protected places of refuge during times of war.

The Israeli military confirmed it was reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident and acknowledged receiving reports of injuries and structural damage.

The incident comes amid growing scrutiny over civilian casualties linked to Israeli military operations in Gaza. On Sunday, six children were killed while waiting in line for water in an airstrike that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) blamed on a “technical error.” On Friday, 15 Palestinians—among them 10 children and two women—were killed in another airstrike near a U.S.-funded clinic.

As the humanitarian toll continues to rise, global concerns are mounting over the safety of civilians, particularly in areas that have traditionally served as sanctuaries in times of conflict.