CNN
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Catholic and Greek Orthodox leaders visited Gaza’s only Catholic church on Friday. There, three people died in an Israeli strike a day ago.
This visit is very unusual given Israel’s strict control of access within and outside the territory.
Israel says it “deeply regrets” the incident and blames stray ammunition for strikes. An investigation is underway.
Pizzabara, Cardinal Piebattista, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the enclave to demonstrate his support for the Catholics of Gaza, according to a statement from the Latin Tribal Chief of Jerusalem.
The two expressed “The common idyllic solicitation of the Holy Land churches and the patriarchy, which has the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholics of Gaza, shares their concerns about the communities of the sacred area.
They brought food aid and medical supplies to territory facing humanitarian crisis. The patriarchy also said its leaders ensured that those injured in the Israeli attacks would be evacuated outside Gaza for treatment.
The Gaza church became a shelter for the small Christian communities and others in the enclave during the conflict.
Pope Leo received a call from Netanyahu on Friday. There, clergymen expressed the importance of protecting places of worship, the Vatican said.
During a call that Netanyahu’s office has not yet commented, Leo updated his call to reach the ceasefire by the fighting side of Gaza.
Pope Leo said, “We have re-expressed concerns about the dramatic humanitarian situation in Gaza’s population, where the Gaza population is being paid heartbreaking prices, particularly by children, elderly people and sick people.”
There have been international condemnation of the attacks from major Israeli allies.
Nearly 59,000 people have been killed during the conflict, says the Palestinian Health Ministry, and the ceasefire talks remain at a deadlock.
Dr Fadru Naim, director of Al Ali Hospital in Gaza, asked why those injured in the attack could leave when others were banned.
“Is it an attempt to hone the image of the profession or a discriminatory act. Do you treat the injured differently based on religion?” he asked in X.
“What about tens of thousands of injured Palestinians who are denied the basic right to travel for treatment?”
