Netanyahu tells Trump strike on Gaza church 'a mistake': White House

AFP , Thursday 17 Jul 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump on Thursday that an Israeli strike on Gaza's only Catholic church had been "a mistake," the White House said.

Gaza church
Christian Palestinians mourn Saad Salameh and Foumia Ayyad, killed earlier in an Israeli strike that hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, during their funeral ceremony at the Saint Porphyrius Church. AFP

 

Trump called Netanyahu after having "not a positive reaction" to learning of the strike, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

"It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic church, that's what the prime minister relayed to the president," Leavitt said.

Out of the Gaza Strip's population of more than two million, about 1,000 are Christians. Most of them are Orthodox but according to the Latin Patriarchate, there are about 135 Catholics in the territory.

The deaths at the church compound came as Gaza's civil defence agency reported at least 20 people killed in other Israeli strikes around the Palestinian territory.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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