Israel says it "deeply regrets" Gaza church strike, vows investigation

Israel has expressed regret after a shell mistakenly struck the Holy Family Church in Gaza City the only Catholic church in the region and said it is investigating the incident reported news agency ANIIn a statement posted on the social media platform X the Israel Defence Forces IDF said that early findings showed fragments from a shell fired during military operations in the area may have hit the church by mistakeAn initial inquiry into reports regarding injured individuals in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City suggests that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly The cause of the incident is under reviewThe IDF directs itshellipmdash Israel Defense Forces IDF July 17 2025An initial inquiry into reports regarding injured individuals in the Holy Family Church in Gaza City suggests that fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly The cause of the incident is under review the statement saidIDF further said The IDF directs its strikes solely at military targets and makes every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and religious structures and regrets any unintentional damage caused to themThe Israeli Prime Ministers Office also shared a message expressing deep regret after the attack on the Church It said Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gazas Holy Family Church Every innocent life lost is a tragedy We share the grief of the families and the faithfulStatement from the Prime Ministers OfficeIsrael deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gazas Holy Family Church Every innocent life lost is a tragedy We share the grief of the families and the faithfulmdash Prime Minister of Israel IsraeliPM July 17 2025The office also said Israel is thankful to Pope Leo XIV for his words of comfort and that the country remains committed to protecting civilians and religious sitesThe Vatican also responded In a message sent on Thursday Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said Pope Leo XIV was deeply saddened by the church strike reported ANICalling it a military attack the message offered prayers for those who lost their lives and for the recovery of the injuredAlongside developments in Gaza Israel is also increasing military actions in Syria Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the operations aim to protect the Druze community living south of Damascus reported ANINetanyahu also revealed that Druze leader Sheikh Mwafaq Tarif reached out to him for help saying the Druze community is being attacked much like the Jewish community was during the Holocaust reported ANINetanyahu said that Tarif told him During the Holocaust when you were being slaughtered you the Jews cried for help and no one came Today we the Druze are being slaughtered and are calling for the help of IsraelHe told me During the Holocaust when you were being slaughtered you the Jews cried for help and no one came Today we the Druze are being slaughtered and are calling for the help of IsraelWe have taken action and we will continue to take action as necessarymdash Prime Minister of Israel IsraeliPM July 17 2025Further the Israeli PM said that he has taken the Druze leaders appeal seriouslyEarlier on Thursday Israels Deputy Chief of Mission in India Fares Saeb released a video message explaining why Israel is standing with the Druze people in Syria Saeb himself belongs to the Druze community reported ANISaeb said As an Israeli diplomat who belongs to the Druze minority in West Asia I feel obligated to explain the situation The Druze are being targeted in Syria because of differences in faith and their alliance with Israel reported ANIHe added that jihadist groups have been attacking Druze villages committing atrocities similar to the October 7 2023 Hamas attack on IsraelThe Syrian regime which has ties with extremist ideology has also targeted religious minorities including Alawites and Christians the Isreali envoy said reported ANISaeb praised Israel for taking a stand Israel is the only country in the region actively protecting minorities while the rest of the world remains silent he saidAccording to ANI Israeli airstrikes were recently carried out in Syrias Suwayda region after four days of clashes involving Druze fighters government forces and Bedouin groups Hundreds of people were reportedly killed in the violenceThe IDF also confirmed that one of its airstrikes targeted the Syrian regimes military headquarters near DamascusWith inputs from ANI