Vatican Calls for Clarification on Church Shelling in Gaza

The Vatican has expressed its demand for an investigation into the recent shelling of the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, which occurred during an Israeli military operation. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin stated in an interview with Italian broadcaster Rai 2 that the Vatican expects the Israeli government to disclose the findings of its promised inquiry into the incident. He emphasized that after numerous discussions, it is now time for concrete actions.

During the interview, which was broadcast on Saturday, Parolin mentioned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call to Pope Leo XIV was appropriate, stating that it was necessary to inform the Pope about such a serious incident. The cardinal urged the Israeli government to clarify whether the attack on the church was genuinely an error--something he suggested was debatable--or if it was a deliberate strike aimed at a Christian church, given that Christians are seen as moderating influences in the Middle East.

He suggested that this could reflect a desire to eliminate any elements that might contribute to a ceasefire or peace. Parolin noted that many lines have been crossed during the Gaza conflict, asserting that the Holy See continues to call for proportionality in military actions, highlighting a situation that appears to be an unrestrained war. He described the suffering of Gaza's population as systematic destruction and starvation.

On Thursday, an Israeli tank shell hit the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, which had been providing refuge for hundreds of people since the outbreak of hostilities. The attack resulted in casualties and injuries, drawing widespread condemnation.

In related developments, the Syrian government officially declared a ceasefire in the Sweida region after intense fighting had resulted in over 300 fatalities in recent days. The Syrian leadership urged all parties to respect the truce and cease hostilities immediately. Prior to this, U.S. envoy for Syria, Tom Barrack, announced an agreement on a ceasefire between Israel and Syria, indicating that Israel has acted as a protector of the Druze community during the conflict.

Further complicating matters, reports have emerged suggesting that the Syrian government miscalculated its troop deployment in southern Syria, inadvertently provoking Israeli airstrikes on Damascus. Insiders indicated that the Syrian leadership believed it had received tacit approval from the U.S. and Israel for its military actions, only to be met with retaliatory strikes by Israel.

In the aftermath of the church attack, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that ten hostages held in Gaza might be released soon, amidst ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and the release of hostages by Hamas. The situation remains fluid, with Hamas asserting that it will only agree to a permanent ceasefire, emphasizing its readiness for prolonged conflict if necessary.

As tensions escalate, humanitarian conditions in the region continue to deteriorate, prompting calls for urgent international intervention and relief efforts.