Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country "deeply regrets that a stray ammunition" hit Gaza's only Catholic Church, killing three people sheltering there. The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza, was struck by a raid this morning, resulting in three deaths and several injuries, including the Parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli. In a statement, the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem appeals to leaders "to raise their voices and to do all that is necessary in order to stop this tragedy which is humanly and morally unjustified." 

Many displaced families from Gaza's small Christian community have been living in the church compound since the war began after their own homes were destroyed. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem also condemned the strike, which it called a "flagrant violation of human dignity and a blatant violation of the sanctity of life and the sanctity of religious sites". It estimated that 600 displaced people were sheltering inside at the time, the majority of whom were children as well as 54 people with special needs.

A video and photos shared with the BBC showed the roof of the Holy Family Church was hit, close to the cross, and that windows were broken. TV footage showed the Argentine parish priest, Father Gabriele Romanelli, walking unsteadily and checking on a man on a stretcher at the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City. Those who have died include Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, the 60-year-old parish janitor, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad, 84, and Najwa Abu Daoud.

"Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful," he said in a statement. This is rather histerical due to the action of Israel having completely obliterated the Gaza Strip, and they have ripped individuals and families from their homes and lives so they (Israel) can continue to take over additional land.