“No Military Action Can Justify…” Meloni Slams IDF Strike On Gaza Church, Pope Leo Calls For Truce

An Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church killed two people on Thursday (July 17), the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said, as Israel said it “never targets” religious sites and regretted any harm to civilians.Pope Leo XIV said he was “deeply saddened” by the attack, which came as Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory killed at least 20 people.”With deep sorrow the Latin Patriarchate can now confirm that two persons were killed as a result of an apparent strike by the Israeli army that hit the Holy Family Compound this morning,” it said in a statement.”We pray for the rest of their souls and for the end of this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians.”Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said “two citizens from the Christian community” were killed in an Israeli strike on the church in Gaza City, with which the late Pope Francis kept regular contact through the war. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION2:55 IDF CHIEF LAUDS COMBAT OF GIVATI BRIGADE DURING GAZA VISIT5:38 PALESTINE HAILS “HISTORIC” HAGUE GROUP DECLARATION