Israel issues rare apology after Gaza church strike kills two

WorldPolitics
22 Jul 2025 • 8:39 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • An Israeli strike on Gaza's Holy Family Church, the sole Catholic church in the enclave, has killed two people and injured several others.
  • The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed the deaths of a man and a woman. The church was reportedly sheltering Christians and Muslims, including children with disabilities.
  • Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni strongly condemned the attack, saying that Israeli actions against the civilian population are unacceptable and cannot be justified.
  • Pope Leo expressed profound sadness over the fatalities and renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire and regional dialogue.
  • Israel's foreign ministry issued a rare apology for the incident, expressing sorrow for the damage to the church and any civilian casualties, while the IDF said it was reviewing the circumstances.

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