Guterres Condemns Israeli Strike on Gaza Church

Two children watch plumes of smoke rise after an airstrike hit Gaza City. (file)

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned Thursday’s Israeli strike that hit the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip.

Three people were killed and at least ten others injured when the Holy Family Church in Gaza City was bombed, according to reports.

Stephanie Tremblay, spokesperson for the Secretary-General, noted that the church was not only a place of worship but also a sanctuary for civilians.

“Attacks on places of worship are unacceptable. People seeking shelter must be respected and protected, not hit by strikes,” she said during the daily briefing in New York.

“Too many lives have already been lost,” she added, stressing the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire and the unconditional release of all hostages.

Meanwhile, Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours have hit sites sheltering displaced Palestinians, resulting in further casualties.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that more than 11,500 people were newly displaced in Gaza between 8 and 15 July. Overall, over 737,000 people—around 35 per cent of the population—have been displaced since hostilities escalated on 18 March.

Since the war began in October 2023, nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, many multiple times.

Ms Tremblay noted that most housing in Gaza is destroyed or uninhabitable, forcing families to stay in the open, as the UN has not been permitted to bring in tents or shelter materials since early March.

She also highlighted a concerning development: many displaced people are now reluctant to bathe in the Mediterranean Sea after Israel reinstated a ban on swimming and fishing.

“OCHA reports that for many, the sea has been their only option to wash, as there is almost no functioning water infrastructure and little fuel to pump water – a critical need during the hot weather,” she explained.

Humanitarian agencies continue to report that fuel supplies allowed into Gaza remain insufficient to keep life-saving services operational.

Ms Tremblay mentioned that, for the first time in over 135 days, Israel allowed the UN to bring in some benzene on Thursday – fuel essential for ambulances and critical services.

“That’s in addition to the limited diesel allowed over the past week. But it’s not enough,” she said.

“We are calling for more fuel – both benzene and diesel – to enter regularly. The ban on shelter materials must also be lifted immediately. Lives depend on both.”