World News: On Thursday, an Israeli tank shell hit the only Catholic church in Gaza, killing three people and injuring ten others. One of the injured is Reverend Gabriel Romanelli, a priest who had close ties with late Pope Francis.
Church Damaged, Calls for Peace
The building of the Holy Family Catholic Church was badly damaged. Pope Leo strongly condemned the attack and asked for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to stop the violence.
Italy’s Prime Minister Also Speaks Out
Italy’s Prime Minister, Georgia Meloni, called the attack unacceptable. She said such actions must stop. The church was a shelter for 600 Palestinians, including 54 disabled people, from both Christian and Muslim communities. An 84-year-old woman, who was already suffering from depression, also died in the attack.
Israel Says It Was Unintentional
The Israeli army said it regrets the damage and loss of lives. It explained that Hamas fighters use civilians as shields, which often leads to such situations.
Netanyahu Apologized to Trump
The White House shared that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to US President Donald Trump and said the church attack was a mistake. Israel’s Foreign Ministry also expressed deep regret over the incident.
More Attacks in Gaza, 27 Killed
The same day, 27 more people died in Israeli attacks on other parts of Gaza. Among the dead were eight workers who were protecting trucks carrying food and aid. These airstrikes happened even as peace talks were happening in Doha.
Syria: Government Army Withdraws from Druze Region
In Syria, the government has pulled its army out of Sweida province, which is mostly populated by the Druze community. This happened after an agreement between the Druze leaders and the Syrian government, following an Israeli airstrike.
Even though the government army has left, fighting continues between the Druze people and the Bedouin community. Earlier, the government supported the Bedouins in this conflict, which led to Israeli attacks on Syrian forces.
