Idf Says Strike On Gaza's Only Catholic Church Was Result Of Munition Misfire

The Israeli subject says its forces "accidentally" deed Gaza's only Catholic religion past week pursuing a probe into a strike that killed 3 people and injured 9 others, including a parish leader who was a close friend of nan precocious Pope Francis.

The deadly onslaught connected July 17 drew world condemnation, including from nan Vatican, pinch Pope Leo XIV calling for an extremity to nan “barbarity of war."

President Donald Trump besides said pinch Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu successful nan aftermath of nan mortar strike, with his management calling for an investigation into nan incident.

"Everyone is appalled," White House spokesperson Tammy Bruce said astatine nan time.

Damage to nan Holy Family Church, a time aft it was deed by an Israeli strike.Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP via Getty Images

Netanyahu's agency subsequently expressed regret complete nan strike, while nan Israeli subject said they would behaviour an investigation.

On Wednesday, it announced that nan Southern Command had completed its enquiry nan time before, determining that troops had struck nan religion "due to an unintentional deviation of munitions," successful statement pinch their preliminary connection that nan onslaught was accidental.

The Israel Defense Forces acknowledged that nan effect of nan onslaught "caused harm to nan structure" of nan religion and "injured respective Gazan civilians." It did not admit that 3 group were killed successful nan incident, according to religion officials. The IDF did not instantly respond to a petition for remark from NBC News connected why nan fatalities were not mentioned.

In an interview pinch Italy’s Corriere della Sera newspaper soon aft nan strike, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, nan Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, expressed doubts complete Israel's first statements which called nan incident a mistake.

“We are not a target. They opportunity it was an error. Even if everybody present believes it wasn’t,” Pizzaballa said.

The precocious Pope Francis had made near-nightly calls to nan Holy Family Church passim nan warfare successful Gaza and up until nan days earlier his decease successful April, speaking pinch parish priest, Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, who was injured successful past week's attack.

The IDF said adjustments had been made to “improve nan accuracy of fire” during nan cognition successful which nan religion was struck — and that pursuing nan incident, “guidelines for opening occurrence adjacent belief buildings, shelters, and different delicate sites were further clarified.” Asked for further accusation connected what adjustments had been made and really guidelines were further clarified, an IDF spokesperson said they would not elaborate beyond nan first statement.

The ceremonial for Saad Salameh and Foumia Ayyad, who were killed successful an Israeli onslaught connected nan Holy Family Church successful Gaza City, connected Thursday. Omar Al-Qattaa / AFP via Getty Images

Throughout nan warfare successful Gaza, civilians person often been killed successful strikes impacting civilian buildings and shelters, including religious sites.

Last week's incident was besides not nan first clip nan Holy Family Church has travel nether attack. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem accused Israeli forces of fatally shooting a mother and girl arsenic they walked wrong its grounds successful December 2023.

Francis condemned nan onslaught astatine nan time. Israeli officials denied responsibility.

The IDF sought to stress Wednesday that it had facilitated nan transportation of assistance to nan Holy Family Church, successful summation to coordinating nan sojourn of a delegation connected behalf of nan Greek and Latin Patriarchs, who were accompanied by a group of Christian clergy. Pizzaballa was among those to make nan uncommon and vulnerable trip, pinch Israel having sealed disconnected nan enclave to visits from overseas officials.

The IDF's completion of its probe and nan merchandise of its findings were markedly swift, pinch nan subject still yet to merchandise nan results of a increasing number of investigations since nan commencement of nan warfare successful Gaza.

Israel launched its battle pursuing nan Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023 attacks successful which immoderate 1,200 group were killed and astir 250 taken hostage, marking a awesome escalation successful a decadeslong conflict.

Since then, much than 59,000 group person been killed successful Gaza, including thousands of children, according to nan Palestinian wellness ministry successful nan enclave, while overmuch of nan territory has been destroyed.