The bombing of the Church of Saint Porphyrius (also known as the Latin Monastery) in Gaza by Israeli forces, which left several Christian worshippers dead or injured—including the priest Gabriele Romanelli—marks a blatant violation of international red lines. This attack is part of a broader pattern of organized assaults in which dozens of mosques across Gaza have been deliberately demolished and innocent worshippers targeted during prayer. A regime that attacks religious sites—whether churches or mosques—not only breaks international law but also wounds global conscience and tramples fundamental human values. The Holy Family Church was also damaged in a separate strike, killing families who had sought shelter inside.
In an unexpected turn, both a spokesperson for the US State Department and President Donald Trump reacted with anger at the news of the church attack, expressing fury at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Although their outrage came too late to make a difference, it signaled that even longtime supporters of Tel Aviv are beginning to question the regime’s increasingly erratic conduct.
Christians: Israel’s New Target
A grim statement by Abdullah Yulius, spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Palestine, shed light on an unprecedented crime: the systematic eradication of Christians in Gaza. According to him, Israel's repeated attacks on churches and religious schools point to a deliberate policy aimed at erasing the Christian community. He described these actions as part of a broader "plan to destroy the Palestinian people," and revealed that even civil registry records of Christians have been erased.
Pope Francis, once again, called for an immediate ceasefire, and Italy’s prime minister sharply condemned Israel for its attacks on civilians. But the question remains: can such reactions, however sincere, halt Israel’s war machine? The answer is no. A regime that has long evaded accountability will only be reined in through sustained political, legal, economic, civil, and possibly military pressure.
A Threat Beyond Palestine’s Borders
In an unambiguous address, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations described the Zionist regime as “the greatest threat to peace and security in the region.” Saeed Iravani condemned Israel’s aggression not only in Gaza but also in Iran and Syria, and cited the killing of over 1,100 civilians in the recent war as proof of the regime’s criminal nature. Using starvation as a weapon of war, destroying essential infrastructure, killing both Muslims and Christians, and dismantling Gaza’s social fabric are just fragments of the brutal reality on the ground.
These actions are not confined to Palestinian territory. Backed by Western powers, Israel is actively exporting insecurity across the region. If the global community remains silent today, the destruction of other holy sites and nations may be next.
Global Action: An Urgent Imperative
In this context, mere verbal condemnation is no longer enough. The international community must take decisive and immediate action to stop Israel’s crimes—particularly its attacks on religious and civilian infrastructure. First, a United Nations-supervised international fact-finding mission should be formed to investigate the recent assaults on churches and mosques in Gaza. Second, independent nations must activate their legal systems to pursue war crime charges against Israel in the International Criminal Court.
Religious institutions—from the Vatican to Islamic authorities—must break their silence. These attacks are not just against Palestinians; they are an assault on the very notion of faith, religious identity, and human dignity in our world today. If these crimes go unanswered, the legitimacy of international institutions will face deeper and more lasting erosion.
NOURNEWS