Following is text of the message of condolences and solidaity from the Custody of the Holy Land for the victims of the attackon the Gaza parish, dated July 17, 2025:

"The Custody of the Holy Land expresses its profound sorrow and deepest solidarity with the Christian community of Gaza, struck today by an attack from the Israeli army, which targeted the parish of the Holy Family, causing three victims and about ten wounded, all innocent civilians, including the Parish Priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, and the Vicar.

"In communion with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Christians of the Holy Land, and Pope Leo, we mourn the lives lost and pray for the wounded, their families, and the entire community that continues to suffer amid the senseless devastation of war. Once again, we strongly denounce the unacceptable and cynical reality in which defenseless civilians, places of worship, and humanitarian structures become targets of violence and destruction. Posthumous requests for apologies unfortunately sound like a repeated refrain aimed at masking warlike behaviors that can no longer be tolerated.

"We firmly condemn any act that harms the civilian population and reiterate the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire, the end of the war, and the start of a process that leads to a just and lasting peace. Every passing day, the human cost becomes more unbearable, the world’s silence more deafening, and the paralysis of the international community more unjustifiable.

"The Custody of the Holy Land joins in prayer with all those who work for peace, justice, and the protection of every human being, regardless of their people or religion. In these dark days, we ask the Lord of Peace not to abandon His people and to convert hearts toward compassion, responsibility, and dialogue."