Israel's government is implementing a policy in Gaza that is "unacceptable and morally unjustifiable," according to the Catholic Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, following his visit to a church in the territory that was struck by Israeli forces last week.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, speaking to journalists in Jerusalem after his first trip to Gaza this year, described severe shortages of food and medical supplies. He stated that Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid were effectively a "sentence" condemning Palestinians to starvation.
"Humanitarian aid is not just necessary—it is a matter of survival," he said. "Every hour without access to food, water, medicine, and shelter inflicts immense suffering."
Pizzaballa visited Gaza alongside Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, demonstrating unity among different Christian denominations after the attack on Holy Family church, which killed three people and wounded nine others, including a priest who was frequently in contact with the late Pope Francis.
The cardinal accused Israel’s government of waging an unjustified war and criticized proposals supported by many Israeli officials to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza.
"We must state clearly that this policy by the Israeli government is unacceptable and morally indefensible," he said. "There can be no future built on oppression, forced displacement, or vengeance."
Following international condemnation of the church attack—including criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the pope to express regret, attributing the incident to "stray ammunition."
Some Catholic leaders have disputed this explanation. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomat, told Italy’s state broadcaster that the claim could "legitimately be doubted."
When asked if Israeli forces had intentionally targeted the church, Pizzaballa said he was not qualified to assess military details but emphasized that Israeli attacks had repeatedly harmed and killed Christians.
"Gaza is nearly completely destroyed, and no one has been spared," he said. "This is not the first such incident—attacks on Holy Family and St. Porphyrius churches occurred in the early weeks of the war as well. Each time, it was called a mistake."
Despite evacuation orders issued for areas near the two compounds sheltering Gaza’s Christian community—about 560 people—they have no plans to leave.
"They know we are resolved to stay," Pizzaballa said when asked if the Christians would comply with the evacuation notices.
Since his previous visit late last year, entire neighborhoods in Gaza City have been devastated beyond recognition, the cardinal said. Areas around al-Ahli hospital, operated by Christians, were "completely leveled," reduced to rubble.
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