The Holy Family Church in Gaza, a long-standing refuge for the city’s dwindling Christian minority, has become the latest victim of Israel’s relentless bombardment. In a direct strike that claimed three civilian lives and left several others wounded, including the parish priest, the sacred site, one of Gaza’s last surviving churches, was left scarred by tank fire. The attack has sparked international condemnation, especially given the church’s role as a sanctuary for over 500 displaced Palestinians, both Christian and Muslim.

The injured priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, had long been a symbol of interfaith unity and compassion. Known for his close bond with the late Pope Francis, Romanelli remained in Gaza throughout the conflict, tending to the wounded, offering spiritual comfort, and helping distribute food, water, and medicine to thousands in need. Now recovering in hospital, he joins the ranks of Gaza’s clergy wounded not only in body, but in spirit.

Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces had targeted the area around the church repeatedly in recent days, despite its civilian status and its critical humanitarian role. Among those killed were an elderly woman receiving aid and a church caretaker. The attack follows a similar bombing last year on the church’s school, which had served as a shelter and was later dismissed by the IDF as a militant hideout, just one of many instances where civilian spaces have been reframed post-strike to justify destruction.

Gaza’s Christian population, once vibrant, has been reduced to a mere thousand. The remaining community, trapped between siege and airstrikes, has taken refuge in the Strip’s three damaged churches. Their cries for protection have largely gone unheard, as places of worship and sacred spaces are torn apart under the guise of security operations.

As the war approaches its second year, such attacks deepen the wounds of a people already facing starvation, disease, and constant fear. When even churches become targets, the message is clear: in Gaza, not even sanctity offers safety.