An Israeli airstrike on 17 July damaged the Church of the Holy Family, the only Catholic parish in Gaza, killing two people and injuring several others, according to the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The Vatican later confirmed the deaths. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the strike and months of Israeli attacks on civilians as “unacceptable,” echoing criticism from Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. Meloni said no military action can justify such harm to non-combatants. The Israel Defense Forces said it is reviewing the circumstances of the incident and reiterated that it seeks to avoid civilian casualties and damage to religious sites.