An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, killing three people and wounding 10 others, including the parish priest, according to church officials.

Mughrabi and Crispian Balmer CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli forces killed at least 27 people in attacks in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, including three people who died in a strike on a church that late Pope Francis used to speak to regularly,

Archbishop Alexios stands in front of the bodies of Palestinian Christians Saad Salama and Foumia Ayyad, who were killed in an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Church, according to medics, as mourners attend their funeral at the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church, in Gaza City, July 17, 2025. REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas