Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Pope Leo, the Vatican reported, a day after an Israeli airstrike on the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip claimed the lives of three people and injured several others, Reuters reported.

During the conversation, the Pope once again called for a ceasefire and an immediate end to the war, expressing deep concern over the "dramatic" humanitarian situation in the Palestinian enclave, according to a statement by the Holy See. Pope Leo also emphasized the urgent need to protect places of worship, believers, and all people in both the Palestinian Territories and Israel.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the highest-ranking Catholic cleric in Jerusalem, entered Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid and support those affected by the Israeli strike.

President Donald Trump also spoke with Netanyahu regarding the strike, the White House reported, emphasizing that the American president’s reaction was negative. "It was not a positive reaction. The President called Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning to discuss the attack on the church in Gaza," said a White House spokeswoman. She added that the Prime Minister acknowledged the strike as a mistake and agreed to issue an official statement on the matter.

A State Department spokeswoman added: "To put it mildly, the President was not pleased." Washington has requested an official investigation into the incident from Israel. The Israeli military stated that it is reviewing the case, and the country’s foreign ministry has promised to publicly disclose the results. Netanyahu said that Israel "deeply regrets that a misfired weapon struck the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza."

According to medics and church representatives, Israeli forces killed at least 27 people in strikes on Gaza, including the three killed in the church incident. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, which oversees the small parish, condemned “this attack on innocent civilians and a sacred place,” stating that the victims were two women and one man.

In an interview with the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Cardinal Pizzaballa stated that the Catholic presence in Gaza would remain “no matter what happens” and expressed doubt over Israel’s claim that the strike was a mistake. “We are not a target. They say it was a mistake. Even if everyone here believes otherwise,” the cardinal commented.

It is extremely rare for foreign officials to gain access to Gaza, as Israel has effectively sealed its borders. Pizzaballa was accompanied by Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The two religious leaders delivered “hundreds of tons of food, as well as first aid kits and urgently needed medical equipment,” according to the Latin Patriarchate. The aid is intended not only for the small Christian community in Gaza but also for “as many families as possible,” with the Patriarchate also assisting in the evacuation of those wounded in the strike. | BGNES