RAMALLAH, July 18, 2025 (WAFA) – President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, strongly condemned the Israeli airstrike that targeted the Latin Patriarchate Church in Gaza on Thursday, which resulted in the killing of three civilians and injuries to over ten others. The church was also sheltering around 600 displaced people at the time of the attack.

In a phone call with Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, President Abbas extended his condolences for the loss of life and expressed his solidarity with the Christian community in Palestine. He emphasized the urgent need to safeguard holy sites and to protect and strengthen the historic Christian presence in the Holy Land.

President Abbas also spoke by phone with Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the church, to inquire about his health following injuries he sustained during the Israeli bombardment.

The President described the targeting of the church as a dangerous escalation in the ongoing series of attacks against Islamic and Christian holy sites and the Palestinian people as a whole. He warned that such actions reflect a systematic policy of disregard for civilian lives and places of worship, in clear violation of international law and humanitarian principles.

President Abbas called on the international community and mediators to act swiftly to implement a sustainable ceasefire, secure the release of hostages and detainees, ensure the entry of humanitarian aid, and facilitate the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. 

He reiterated the readiness of the State of Palestine to assume full responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, assist displaced civilians in returning to their homes, provide essential services, begin reconstruction, and engage in a political process aimed at ending the occupation of all Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, with East Jerusalem as the capital, in accordance with international legitimacy.

M.N