The death toll at Gaza's Holy Family Church could have been significantly higher if not for the actions of the parish priest, according to Catholic aid organizations.
Three people were killed and around ten others injured after what the Israeli military described as “stray ammunition” struck the church compound.
Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, who was slightly injured in the incident and has ministered in the region for decades, had repeatedly advised people to remain indoors to protect themselves from the surrounding violence.
Elizabeth Funnell, Middle East representative for the Catholic aid agency CAFOD, said in a statement that Fr. Gabriel “had been urging people to remain inside their rooms in recent days, as the situation around the church was becoming so dangerous. This is not a normal way for people to live, and yet his words and advice undoubtedly saved lives. A colleague in the church compound in Gaza told me, ‘If Father Gabriel hadn’t warned us to stay indoors, we could have lost 50 to 60 people today. It would have been a massacre.’”
John Pontifex, from the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, told Premier: “This is a truly desperate situation, and you can only imagine how much worse it would have been had he not given that advice. This is someone who has stood by his people for over 30 years. He has been a sign of God’s presence—of Christ’s presence—in a place of immense suffering. We can only praise and salute his efforts, and those of so many others.”
“He has been a stalwart presence, speaking almost daily with Pope Francis before the Pope's death. And now, he himself has been injured—albeit slightly. Photos have emerged of him walking unsteadily while tending to someone wounded nearby.”
The three victims have been identified as 60-year-old Saad Salameh, the church’s janitor; 84-year-old Fumayya Ayyad, who had been receiving psychological support in a tent in the church compound; and 69-year-old Najwa Abu Daoud, who was sitting nearby when the strike occurred.
Israel has stated that preliminary investigations suggest shell fragments "hit the church mistakenly." However, John Pontifex said the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem is withholding judgment, noting the church appears to have been struck directly by tank fire.
“We’re deeply concerned about this—not least because the circumstances under which the church was struck remain unclear,” he said. “Was it really stray ammunition, or was it more deliberate? There are serious, unanswered questions. This has caused enormous distress, adding to what is already widespread suffering.”
“This church has been a gathering place for hundreds of displaced families. It’s not only a sanctuary—it’s a place of prayer and a symbol of hope for Gaza City, which has suffered tremendously. We hope it will continue to serve in that role.”
Fr. Gabriel, originally from Argentina, entered seminary at age 18 and has spent most of his life serving in the Middle East. He has been the priest of Holy Family Church since 2019.