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Two die in church as Israeli strikes kill 22 in Gaza

Two die in church as Israeli strikes kill 22 in Gaza

The Advertiser17-07-2025
Israeli forces have killed at least 22 people in attacks in the Gaza Strip, including two people who died in a strike on a church that late Pope Francis used to speak to regularly.
Eight men tasked with protecting aid trucks were reported among the dead in air strikes that were carried out while mediators continued ceasefire talks in Doha.
A US official said this week the talks were going well but two officials from the Palestinian militant group Hamas told Reuters there had been no breakthrough as the Israeli military continued to pummel Gaza.
A man and a woman died, and several people were wounded on Thursday in "an apparent strike by the Israeli army" on Gaza's Holy Family Church, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement.
"We pray that their souls rest (in peace) and for an end to this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians," said the Patriarchate, which oversees the only Catholic church in the enclave.
Photos released by the church showed its roof had been hit close to the main cross, scorching the stone facade, and that windows had been broken.
Father Gabriele Romanelli, an Argentine who used to regularly update the late Pope Francis about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was lightly injured in the attack.
TV footage showed him sitting receiving treatment at Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza, with a bandage around his lower right leg.
"The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement.
Pope Leo was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and renewed his appeal for an immediate ceasefire, the Vatican said.
The Israel Defence Forces said it was aware of reports of casualties and was reviewing the incident, adding it made "every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them".
Israel has been trying to eradicate Hamas in Gaza in a military campaign that began after the group's deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and has caused widespread hunger and privation in the tiny enclave.
Palestinian medics said one air strike on Thursday had killed a man, his wife and their five children in Jabalia in northern Gaza, and another in the north had killed eight men who had been handed responsibility for protecting aid trucks.
Three people were killed in an air strike in central Gaza and four in Zeitoun in eastern Gaza, medics said.
Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have hosted more than 10 days of talks on a proposed US 60-day truce.
As part of the potential deal, 10 hostages held in Gaza would be returned along with the bodies of 18 others, spread out over 60 days.
In exchange, Israel would release detained Palestinians. The exact number is not clear.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza were going well.
A Palestinian official close to the talks said such optimistic comments were "empty of substance".
Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Almost 1650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1200 killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according to Israeli tallies.
Israeli forces have killed at least 22 people in attacks in the Gaza Strip, including two people who died in a strike on a church that late Pope Francis used to speak to regularly.
Eight men tasked with protecting aid trucks were reported among the dead in air strikes that were carried out while mediators continued ceasefire talks in Doha.
A US official said this week the talks were going well but two officials from the Palestinian militant group Hamas told Reuters there had been no breakthrough as the Israeli military continued to pummel Gaza.
A man and a woman died, and several people were wounded on Thursday in "an apparent strike by the Israeli army" on Gaza's Holy Family Church, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement.
"We pray that their souls rest (in peace) and for an end to this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians," said the Patriarchate, which oversees the only Catholic church in the enclave.
Photos released by the church showed its roof had been hit close to the main cross, scorching the stone facade, and that windows had been broken.
Father Gabriele Romanelli, an Argentine who used to regularly update the late Pope Francis about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was lightly injured in the attack.
TV footage showed him sitting receiving treatment at Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza, with a bandage around his lower right leg.
"The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement.
Pope Leo was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and renewed his appeal for an immediate ceasefire, the Vatican said.
The Israel Defence Forces said it was aware of reports of casualties and was reviewing the incident, adding it made "every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them".
Israel has been trying to eradicate Hamas in Gaza in a military campaign that began after the group's deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and has caused widespread hunger and privation in the tiny enclave.
Palestinian medics said one air strike on Thursday had killed a man, his wife and their five children in Jabalia in northern Gaza, and another in the north had killed eight men who had been handed responsibility for protecting aid trucks.
Three people were killed in an air strike in central Gaza and four in Zeitoun in eastern Gaza, medics said.
Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have hosted more than 10 days of talks on a proposed US 60-day truce.
As part of the potential deal, 10 hostages held in Gaza would be returned along with the bodies of 18 others, spread out over 60 days.
In exchange, Israel would release detained Palestinians. The exact number is not clear.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza were going well.
A Palestinian official close to the talks said such optimistic comments were "empty of substance".
Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Almost 1650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1200 killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according to Israeli tallies.
Israeli forces have killed at least 22 people in attacks in the Gaza Strip, including two people who died in a strike on a church that late Pope Francis used to speak to regularly.
Eight men tasked with protecting aid trucks were reported among the dead in air strikes that were carried out while mediators continued ceasefire talks in Doha.
A US official said this week the talks were going well but two officials from the Palestinian militant group Hamas told Reuters there had been no breakthrough as the Israeli military continued to pummel Gaza.
A man and a woman died, and several people were wounded on Thursday in "an apparent strike by the Israeli army" on Gaza's Holy Family Church, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement.
"We pray that their souls rest (in peace) and for an end to this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians," said the Patriarchate, which oversees the only Catholic church in the enclave.
Photos released by the church showed its roof had been hit close to the main cross, scorching the stone facade, and that windows had been broken.
Father Gabriele Romanelli, an Argentine who used to regularly update the late Pope Francis about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was lightly injured in the attack.
TV footage showed him sitting receiving treatment at Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza, with a bandage around his lower right leg.
"The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement.
Pope Leo was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and renewed his appeal for an immediate ceasefire, the Vatican said.
The Israel Defence Forces said it was aware of reports of casualties and was reviewing the incident, adding it made "every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them".
Israel has been trying to eradicate Hamas in Gaza in a military campaign that began after the group's deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and has caused widespread hunger and privation in the tiny enclave.
Palestinian medics said one air strike on Thursday had killed a man, his wife and their five children in Jabalia in northern Gaza, and another in the north had killed eight men who had been handed responsibility for protecting aid trucks.
Three people were killed in an air strike in central Gaza and four in Zeitoun in eastern Gaza, medics said.
Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have hosted more than 10 days of talks on a proposed US 60-day truce.
As part of the potential deal, 10 hostages held in Gaza would be returned along with the bodies of 18 others, spread out over 60 days.
In exchange, Israel would release detained Palestinians. The exact number is not clear.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza were going well.
A Palestinian official close to the talks said such optimistic comments were "empty of substance".
Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Almost 1650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1200 killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according to Israeli tallies.
Israeli forces have killed at least 22 people in attacks in the Gaza Strip, including two people who died in a strike on a church that late Pope Francis used to speak to regularly.
Eight men tasked with protecting aid trucks were reported among the dead in air strikes that were carried out while mediators continued ceasefire talks in Doha.
A US official said this week the talks were going well but two officials from the Palestinian militant group Hamas told Reuters there had been no breakthrough as the Israeli military continued to pummel Gaza.
A man and a woman died, and several people were wounded on Thursday in "an apparent strike by the Israeli army" on Gaza's Holy Family Church, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement.
"We pray that their souls rest (in peace) and for an end to this barbaric war. Nothing can justify the targeting of innocent civilians," said the Patriarchate, which oversees the only Catholic church in the enclave.
Photos released by the church showed its roof had been hit close to the main cross, scorching the stone facade, and that windows had been broken.
Father Gabriele Romanelli, an Argentine who used to regularly update the late Pope Francis about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was lightly injured in the attack.
TV footage showed him sitting receiving treatment at Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza, with a bandage around his lower right leg.
"The attacks against the civilian population that Israel has been carrying out for months are unacceptable. No military action can justify such an attitude," Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement.
Pope Leo was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and renewed his appeal for an immediate ceasefire, the Vatican said.
The Israel Defence Forces said it was aware of reports of casualties and was reviewing the incident, adding it made "every feasible effort to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian structures, including religious sites, and regrets any damage caused to them".
Israel has been trying to eradicate Hamas in Gaza in a military campaign that began after the group's deadly attack on Israel in October 2023 and has caused widespread hunger and privation in the tiny enclave.
Palestinian medics said one air strike on Thursday had killed a man, his wife and their five children in Jabalia in northern Gaza, and another in the north had killed eight men who had been handed responsibility for protecting aid trucks.
Three people were killed in an air strike in central Gaza and four in Zeitoun in eastern Gaza, medics said.
Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have hosted more than 10 days of talks on a proposed US 60-day truce.
As part of the potential deal, 10 hostages held in Gaza would be returned along with the bodies of 18 others, spread out over 60 days.
In exchange, Israel would release detained Palestinians. The exact number is not clear.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza were going well.
A Palestinian official close to the talks said such optimistic comments were "empty of substance".
Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Almost 1650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1200 killed in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, according to Israeli tallies.
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Enough is enough. End the starvation in Gaza
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To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. Enough is enough Those photos, those stories in TheAge in the last week and the Wilcox cartoon of Gaza, of children starving to death, people dying in the attempt to get food – enough. It is unforgivable that we continue to stand by and do virtually nothing. I don't care whether you call it genocide, I don't care whether you call me antisemitic – I am not, but the killing must stop now. Benjamin Netanyahu must be stopped. If the only real tool of influence we have at our disposal is sanctions, then use them Anthony Albanese. Not only are innocents dying daily, but generational hatred is being cultivated. The Palestinians who manage to live will never forget. Hate will continue to grow exponentially, babies and children will continue to die meaningless slow and horrible deaths, and our world is in deadly peril. Please, our wise and cautious leaders, do something substantive. Karen Morris, Newport This is hatred High school students verbally attacking primary school children with hateful comments in a public area: if that is not antisemitism, racism and pure ignorant hatred, then I don't know what is. Marie Nash, Balwyn Israel the problem . . . Your correspondent (Letters, 26/7) claims the crisis in Gaza is of Hamas's making. Apparently, the real problem is that Hamas won't surrender, not the siege imposed by Israel. Not the bombed hospitals. Not the people who die while collecting food. Not the blockade on baby formula. Just Hamas. But let's be clear: This is not a war between equals. Israel is one of the most advanced militaries on Earth unleashing its power on a captive population. It is Israel that controls Gaza's borders, and blocks humanitarian aid. It is Israel that has killed tens of thousands, levelled cities, and made famine a weapon of war. Pointing the finger at Hamas while babies die of hunger under siege is not just misdirection – it is moral cowardice. Pressure should go where the power lies. And in this case, that's not Hamas. Nadia Green, Sunshine North . . . And the solution Your correspondent (Letters, 26/7) completely misses the point. There is starvation in Gaza and it is Israel causing the starvation through its blockade, and only Israel can end the blockade. Whether there is a ceasefire or not, or whether Hamas goes to Qatar is irrelevant; food, medicine, water and fuel can be let into Gaza today to feed the starving people, but Israel is stopping it. Anastasios Moralis, Ormond Follow France example Israel will continue its deadly actions in Gaza and the West Bank until it is prevented from doing so. Australia should stand with France and the other countries who recognise the state of Palestine. Yes, it's a symbolic gesture, but it also offers a pathway to peace.

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