Israel strikes in Damascus as clashes in Syria rage on
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus.
Israel has launched air strikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border.
Syria's defence ministry had earlier blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached on Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire and continue military operations in the Druze-majority province.
"Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes," the statement said.
A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war.
Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory.
The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities.
The fears of minorities increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks in which hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed.
The latest escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community.
Government forces that intervened to restore order have also clashed with the Druze, while reports have surfaced of members of the security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, looting and burning civilian homes.
No official casualty figures have been released since Monday, when the Syrian interior ministry said 30 people had been killed.
The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 250 people had been killed as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces.
The observatory said at least 21 people were killed in "field executions".
The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam.
More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981.
In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel has "a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarised area on Israel's border" and has "an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals".
Israel has taken an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders since Assad's fall, saying it does not want Islamist militants near its borders.
Clashes have raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatens to escalate its involvement, saying it's in support of the Druze religious minority.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus.
Israel has launched air strikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border.
Syria's defence ministry had earlier blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached on Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire and continue military operations in the Druze-majority province.
"Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes," the statement said.
A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war.
Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory.
The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities.
The fears of minorities increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks in which hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed.
The latest escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community.
Government forces that intervened to restore order have also clashed with the Druze, while reports have surfaced of members of the security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, looting and burning civilian homes.
No official casualty figures have been released since Monday, when the Syrian interior ministry said 30 people had been killed.
The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 250 people had been killed as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces.
The observatory said at least 21 people were killed in "field executions".
The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam.
More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981.
In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel has "a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarised area on Israel's border" and has "an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals".
Israel has taken an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders since Assad's fall, saying it does not want Islamist militants near its borders.
Clashes have raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatens to escalate its involvement, saying it's in support of the Druze religious minority.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus.
Israel has launched air strikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border.
Syria's defence ministry had earlier blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached on Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire and continue military operations in the Druze-majority province.
"Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes," the statement said.
A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war.
Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory.
The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities.
The fears of minorities increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks in which hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed.
The latest escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community.
Government forces that intervened to restore order have also clashed with the Druze, while reports have surfaced of members of the security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, looting and burning civilian homes.
No official casualty figures have been released since Monday, when the Syrian interior ministry said 30 people had been killed.
The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 250 people had been killed as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces.
The observatory said at least 21 people were killed in "field executions".
The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam.
More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981.
In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel has "a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarised area on Israel's border" and has "an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals".
Israel has taken an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders since Assad's fall, saying it does not want Islamist militants near its borders.
Clashes have raged in the southern Syrian city of Sweida after a ceasefire between government forces and Druze armed groups collapsed and as Israel threatens to escalate its involvement, saying it's in support of the Druze religious minority.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army said it struck near the entrance to the Syrian defence ministry in Damascus.
Israel has launched air strikes on convoys of government forces in southern Syria since the clashes erupted and has beefed up forces on the border.
Syria's defence ministry had earlier blamed militias in Sweida for violating a ceasefire agreement that had been reached on Tuesday, causing Syrian army soldiers to return fire and continue military operations in the Druze-majority province.
"Military forces continue to respond to the source of fire inside the city of Sweida, while adhering to rules of engagement to protect residents, prevent harm, and ensure the safe return of those who left the city back to their homes," the statement said.
A rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgent groups ousted Syria's longtime despotic leader, Bashar Assad, in December, bringing an end to a nearly 14-year civil war.
Since then, the country's new rulers have struggled to consolidate control over the territory.
The primarily Sunni Muslim leaders have faced suspicion from religious and ethnic minorities.
The fears of minorities increased after clashes between government forces and pro-Assad armed groups in March spiralled into sectarian revenge attacks in which hundreds of civilians from the Alawite religious minority, to which Assad belongs, were killed.
The latest escalation in Syria began with tit-for-tat kidnappings and attacks between local Sunni Bedouin tribes and Druze armed factions in the southern province, a centre of the Druze community.
Government forces that intervened to restore order have also clashed with the Druze, while reports have surfaced of members of the security forces carrying out extrajudicial killings, looting and burning civilian homes.
No official casualty figures have been released since Monday, when the Syrian interior ministry said 30 people had been killed.
The UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 250 people had been killed as of Wednesday morning, including four children, five women and 138 soldiers and security forces.
The observatory said at least 21 people were killed in "field executions".
The Druze religious sect began as a 10th-century offshoot of Ismailism, a branch of Shi'ite Islam.
More than half the roughly one million Druze worldwide live in Syria. Most of the other Druze live in Lebanon and Israel, including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast War and annexed in 1981.
In Israel, the Druze are seen as a loyal minority and often serve in the military.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday night that Israel has "a commitment to preserve the southwestern region of Syria as a demilitarised area on Israel's border" and has "an obligation to safeguard the Druze locals".
Israel has taken an aggressive stance towards Syria's new leaders since Assad's fall, saying it does not want Islamist militants near its borders.
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Druze community, divided between Syria and Israel, has fleeting connection during conflict
The small towns in the northern tip of the Israeli occupied Golan Heights aren't usually susceptible to traffic jams. Clinging to the side of Mount Hermon, the narrow and winding streets of Majdal Shams can be challenging to navigate in quieter times. But on Wednesday night, it was clogged with cars, trucks and quad bikes, as the sounds of joyous celebrations echoed up and down the valley where the Druze village sits. The focal point was a gate, in a kilometres long razor wire-topped fence, which had been forced open earlier in the day by hundreds of members of the Druze community — a religious minority spread across Syria, Lebanon and Israel. For the first time in decades, Israeli Druze poured through the fence — first by foot, then by car. Syrian Druze made the opposite journey. Heartwarming family reunions decades in the making ensued for a number of hours, on both sides of the fence. As night fell, hundreds of people lined the streets cheering and chanting as groups returned through the gate. The fact the event occurred at all is notable. So too is the fact that Israeli authorities, known for their vice-like control of borders, allowed it to happen — and indeed stood and watched it play out. The fence was breached as Israel launched extensive air strikes across Syria. Many of the Druze who'd pushed their way through had done so trying to encourage Israel to go even further. Less than 24 hours later, as Israeli jets resumed their focus on Gaza instead of the country's northern neighbours, the gate was secured. Life was returning to normal. But the impact of the bombing raids across Syria was only just being realised. Through the noise and walls of the colourful Druze flags, Zeid Abu Jabal emerged from the area near the gate. He was beaming. "I met my brother from the other side from Sweida, from Jabal Arab, whom I have not seen for more than 50 years," he told the ABC. "The meeting took place here, when the young men went inside [Syria], there was an opportunity for my brother to cross [back into the Golan] with people he knows who came here from the other side. "There was food and drinks and we met them and we wanted them to stay with us, but unfortunately, we were informed that at 10pm they had to cross the border and go back to where they came from." It was hard for Zeid to hide his smile. But, his happiness was still tempered by fear and frustration. This reunion with his brother had only occurred because of violent clashes between the Druze and Bedouin communities over the border, and Israel's decision to get involved in the conflict. The clashes began last weekend when a Druze merchant was reportedly kidnapped, sparking more violence between the groups and triggering the Syrian government forces to deploy to the Sweida region in southern Syria. As of this morning the conflict's death toll had soared to nearly 600, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Zeid blamed the new Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa for the situation. "Al-Sharaa, more than once, found groups to strike our Druze brethren, and unfortunately this time was an attack on our honour and our elderly leaders, on our children and on our women," he said. "Al-Sharaa is one of the terror groups that is acting to exterminate the Druze in Sweida and Jabal Al-Arab. "If he had any peaceful intention, Syria would not have reached this situation, Assad before him was unjust towards his people, unfortunately what we see from Al-Sharaa is worse than what we saw from Assad." Proudly displaying the Druze flag, Wade Sabag said he had seen videos on social media showing the fighting in Syria. "I get so angry, and the feeling of that I can't do anything here because we are in different countries," he said. "It's so bad." It is that sentiment Israel tapped into when it launched its attacks inside Syria, insisting it was protecting the Syrian Druze in solidarity with its own Druze population. Benjamin Netanyahu's willingness to flex his country's military muscle has been clear for the world to see in recent times. While the war in Gaza stretched into its 21st month, Israel sparked a 12-day conflict with Iran. Israeli forces continue to strike inside Lebanon despite a ceasefire, repeatedly attacked Yemen's Houthi rebels, and have intensified their campaign against claimed militants in the occupied West Bank. As Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's regime was toppled by Islamist rebel forces in December, Israel sent troops and tanks over the border into what was once the buffer zone along the border with the Golan Heights. It's since moved beyond that zone and attacked targets in Syria, including the Ministry of Defence in Damascus. Mr Netanyahu said it was in response to Syrian forces moving south of Damascus and "massacring Druze" in what was supposed to be a "demilitarised" area. "This was something we could not accept in any way," he said Mr Netanyahu said Israel's strikes had forced Syrian forces to retreat to Damascus. That's where Israel wants them to stay, and Mr Netanyahu has indicated he's prepared to use force again to ensure they do. "We will not allow Syrian army forces to enter the region south of Damascus," he said. "We have taken action, and we will continue to take action as necessary." Since the Israeli strikes, a ceasefire was negotiated and most fighting between Israeli and Syrian government forces has stopped. While Syrian government forces had mostly left the southern province of Sweida after days of clashes with Druze militias, the fighting hasn't fully ceased. According to Syrian state media, Druze militiamen have attacked Sunni Bedouin communities. A military commander for the Bedouin said their fighters had launched a new offensive in Sweida province against Druze fighters and that the truce there only applied to government forces, Reuters reported. The Druze in Israel are generally seen as supportive of the country. However, many of those in the Golan have closer ties to Syria. Long time Druze activist Salman Fakhreddin has been campaigning against Israeli occupation for decades, and has been jailed by Israeli authorities 13 times as a result. "A decade before [these attacks] the Druze were massacred [in Syria] and the Israelis didn't do anything," he said. "What motivates them, it is not human rights, it's hegemony and occupation." He described Israel as being locked in "an eternal crisis" — occupying land, but demanding peace at the same time. The allegations from Salman Fakhreddin tally with those coming from the new Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa — a man he has little positive to say about. The Islamist leader-turned-president has been talking up the prospects of uniting his country, even as concerns abound about the ideology of the forces he led to power and the risk they would target Syria's minority groups. In the seven months since he toppled dictator Bashar Al-Assad, there have been a number of deadly attacks — including against Alawites and, now, the Druze. "Open war with Israel at the expense of the Druze people and their security is destabilising Syria and the entire region," Al-Sharaa said in a televised speech overnight. "Israel resorted to extensive targeting of civilian and governmental facilities, to undermine efforts, which greatly complicated the situation, and pushed matters to a large-scale escalation. "If it weren't for the effective intervention of American, Arab and Turkish mediation, which saved the region from an unknown fate." The Syrian president's reference to the US in his comments was telling — not least because of the White House's influence over Israel's actions. Just weeks ago, it was Donald Trump who lifted crippling sanctions on Syria in a bid to help the country rebuild. That was a move pushed by Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Bin Salman, the Saudi Crown Prince, was the one to introduce the US president to Ahmed Al-Sharaa, while he visited Riyadh. "Young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past. Very strong past. Fighter. He's got a real shot at pulling it together," President Trump told reporters after the meeting on Air Force One. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to downplay Israel's strikes this week by saying it was a "misunderstanding" with Syria. But the ramifications are significant. One of Donald Trump's major goals is the expansion of the Abraham Accords, the title of the program promoting normalisation of ties between Israel and Arab nations — relations that have traditionally been hostile The jewel in that foreign policy crown would be getting Saudi Arabia to sign on — a task that could become more difficult after Israel's strikes in Syria. So too any sort of normalisation with Syria, which had been mooted for weeks. For all the questioning of Israel's motives, the decision by the Netanyahu government and the IDF have support even amongst some of the prime minister's most staunch opponents. "We have a strong commitment to the Druze here in Israel, and therefore also for the Druzes in Lebanon and in Syria," Israeli leader of the Democrats Yair Golan told the ABC. "And in both unstable countries, we need to be in high awareness to what is happening there. "I think it came only too late, and the minute we understand that these people, our allies and our citizens, are under threat, we need to do something in order to secure them and in order prevent further massacres." A former government minister, and member of Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, took that a step further. "One can not play the game with this ISIS guy called Al-Sharaa," Druze politician Ayoob Kara argued. "He is dressed up like Little Red Riding Hood, with a tie and his trimmed beard." The talk of the threat coming from Syria prompted Israeli forces to start erecting concrete barriers on Thursday, along the very fenceline they had watched Druze breach the day before. Siham Safadi was watching on. She had welcomed family from the Syrian side of the fence the day earlier, and was preparing to say goodbye. "This fence that has been established I understand it is for security but it has closed our heart," she told the ABC. "It has closed all Majdal Shams, all the Golan Heights, it causes us pain. "It's a cement wall, they have turned our hearts into cement."
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Syria deploys troops as clashes heat up between Druze and Bedouin clans
Syrian forces are redeploying after new fighting between Druze and Bedouin clans. Israel has intervened and says it agreed to the move after launching air strikes in support of the Druze, targeting Syrian government forces and military sites in Damascus. The US is influencing the Israeli government by trying to prevent Israel from any further dramatic strikes on Syria.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Christian leaders in Gaza after Israel's church strike
Top church leaders in Jerusalem have headed into Gaza in a rare solidarity visit to the territory one day after an Israeli shell slammed into its only Catholic church, killing three people. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III entered Gaza on Friday morning to express the "shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land", read a statement released by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The patriarchs and their delegation arrived at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza in the afternoon. As well as the three people killed in the strike, 10 were wounded, including the resident priest. The church compound was damaged. The delegation was also planning on sending hundreds of tonnes of food aid, medical supplies and equipment to families inside Gaza, the patriarchate said, adding they also had "ensured evacuation" of individuals injured in the attack to hospitals outside Gaza. The attack drew condemnation from world leaders and religious figures. Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack and President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his frustration. Israel on Thursday expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating. The visit by religious leaders on Friday marked a rare entrance to the territory by a delegation of outsiders, as Israel has essentially sealed its borders. At the time of the strike, the church compound was sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the casualties. The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish's 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were killed in the attack. Parish priest Gabriel Romanelli was lightly wounded. "The Latin Patriarchate remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza. They will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned," read the statement from Caritas. Netanyahu released a statement saying Israel "deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church". The prime minister called Pope Leo on Friday, the Vatican said, in which Leo renewed appeals for a ceasefire and an end to the war, called for the protection of civilians and places of worship, and expressed fresh concern for "the dramatic humanitarian situation" in Gaza. The Israeli military said an initial assessment indicated that "fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly". Israel has repeatedly struck schools, shelters, hospitals and other civilian buildings, accusing Hamas militants of sheltering inside and blaming them for civilian deaths. Palestinians say nowhere has felt safe since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. Hamas-led militants killed some 1200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 people, most of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Fifty hostages are still being held, less than half of them believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 58,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. with Reuters Top church leaders in Jerusalem have headed into Gaza in a rare solidarity visit to the territory one day after an Israeli shell slammed into its only Catholic church, killing three people. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III entered Gaza on Friday morning to express the "shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land", read a statement released by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The patriarchs and their delegation arrived at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza in the afternoon. As well as the three people killed in the strike, 10 were wounded, including the resident priest. The church compound was damaged. The delegation was also planning on sending hundreds of tonnes of food aid, medical supplies and equipment to families inside Gaza, the patriarchate said, adding they also had "ensured evacuation" of individuals injured in the attack to hospitals outside Gaza. The attack drew condemnation from world leaders and religious figures. Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack and President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his frustration. Israel on Thursday expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating. The visit by religious leaders on Friday marked a rare entrance to the territory by a delegation of outsiders, as Israel has essentially sealed its borders. At the time of the strike, the church compound was sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the casualties. The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish's 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were killed in the attack. Parish priest Gabriel Romanelli was lightly wounded. "The Latin Patriarchate remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza. They will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned," read the statement from Caritas. Netanyahu released a statement saying Israel "deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church". The prime minister called Pope Leo on Friday, the Vatican said, in which Leo renewed appeals for a ceasefire and an end to the war, called for the protection of civilians and places of worship, and expressed fresh concern for "the dramatic humanitarian situation" in Gaza. The Israeli military said an initial assessment indicated that "fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly". Israel has repeatedly struck schools, shelters, hospitals and other civilian buildings, accusing Hamas militants of sheltering inside and blaming them for civilian deaths. Palestinians say nowhere has felt safe since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. Hamas-led militants killed some 1200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 people, most of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Fifty hostages are still being held, less than half of them believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 58,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. with Reuters Top church leaders in Jerusalem have headed into Gaza in a rare solidarity visit to the territory one day after an Israeli shell slammed into its only Catholic church, killing three people. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III entered Gaza on Friday morning to express the "shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land", read a statement released by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The patriarchs and their delegation arrived at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza in the afternoon. As well as the three people killed in the strike, 10 were wounded, including the resident priest. The church compound was damaged. The delegation was also planning on sending hundreds of tonnes of food aid, medical supplies and equipment to families inside Gaza, the patriarchate said, adding they also had "ensured evacuation" of individuals injured in the attack to hospitals outside Gaza. The attack drew condemnation from world leaders and religious figures. Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack and President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his frustration. Israel on Thursday expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating. The visit by religious leaders on Friday marked a rare entrance to the territory by a delegation of outsiders, as Israel has essentially sealed its borders. At the time of the strike, the church compound was sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the casualties. The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish's 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were killed in the attack. Parish priest Gabriel Romanelli was lightly wounded. "The Latin Patriarchate remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza. They will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned," read the statement from Caritas. Netanyahu released a statement saying Israel "deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church". The prime minister called Pope Leo on Friday, the Vatican said, in which Leo renewed appeals for a ceasefire and an end to the war, called for the protection of civilians and places of worship, and expressed fresh concern for "the dramatic humanitarian situation" in Gaza. The Israeli military said an initial assessment indicated that "fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly". Israel has repeatedly struck schools, shelters, hospitals and other civilian buildings, accusing Hamas militants of sheltering inside and blaming them for civilian deaths. Palestinians say nowhere has felt safe since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. Hamas-led militants killed some 1200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 people, most of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Fifty hostages are still being held, less than half of them believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 58,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. with Reuters Top church leaders in Jerusalem have headed into Gaza in a rare solidarity visit to the territory one day after an Israeli shell slammed into its only Catholic church, killing three people. The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III entered Gaza on Friday morning to express the "shared pastoral solicitude of the Churches of the Holy Land", read a statement released by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The patriarchs and their delegation arrived at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza in the afternoon. As well as the three people killed in the strike, 10 were wounded, including the resident priest. The church compound was damaged. The delegation was also planning on sending hundreds of tonnes of food aid, medical supplies and equipment to families inside Gaza, the patriarchate said, adding they also had "ensured evacuation" of individuals injured in the attack to hospitals outside Gaza. The attack drew condemnation from world leaders and religious figures. Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack and President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his frustration. Israel on Thursday expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating. The visit by religious leaders on Friday marked a rare entrance to the territory by a delegation of outsiders, as Israel has essentially sealed its borders. At the time of the strike, the church compound was sheltering both Christians and Muslims, including a number of children with disabilities, according to Fadel Naem, acting director of Al-Ahli Hospital, which received the casualties. The Catholic charity Caritas Jerusalem said the parish's 60-year-old janitor and an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support inside a Caritas tent in the church compound were killed in the attack. Parish priest Gabriel Romanelli was lightly wounded. "The Latin Patriarchate remains steadfast in its commitment to the Christian community and the entire population of Gaza. They will not be forgotten, nor will they be abandoned," read the statement from Caritas. Netanyahu released a statement saying Israel "deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church". The prime minister called Pope Leo on Friday, the Vatican said, in which Leo renewed appeals for a ceasefire and an end to the war, called for the protection of civilians and places of worship, and expressed fresh concern for "the dramatic humanitarian situation" in Gaza. The Israeli military said an initial assessment indicated that "fragments from a shell fired during operational activity in the area hit the church mistakenly". Israel has repeatedly struck schools, shelters, hospitals and other civilian buildings, accusing Hamas militants of sheltering inside and blaming them for civilian deaths. Palestinians say nowhere has felt safe since Israel launched its offensive in response to Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack. Hamas-led militants killed some 1200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 people, most of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Fifty hostages are still being held, less than half of them believed to be alive. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 58,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry. with Reuters
