The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III say they have returned from visiting Gaza with "hearts burdened by sorrow."

At a press conference in Jerusalem yesterday they described the spiralling humanitarian crisis in the enclave as "morally unacceptable and unjustifiable."

It is rare for foreign officials to be allowed entry into Gaza because the borders were sealed after the October 7 attacks. But on Friday the church leaders were able to gain access to pay their condolences after three people were killed in an Israeli strike on the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City. A priest in the compound, Fr Gabriel Romanelli was among several injured in the attack.

Cardinal Pizzaballa, who is the most senior Catholic authority in the region, told the press conference that "It is time to end this nonsense and the war."

Adding that aid was “a matter of life or death” he urged the international community not to "turn peace into a slogan, while war remains the daily bread of the poor.

“We have seen men holding out in the sun for hours in the hope of simple meal…

"This is humiliation that is hard to bear when you see it with you own eyes. It is morally unacceptable and unjustifiable."

Patriarch Theophilos III said his Church would "stand in solidarity" with "the whole people of Gaza".

Israel has blamed ‘stray ammunition’ for the strike on the Holy Family Church, saying it doesn’t target civilians. However, Cardinal Pizzaballa said it was not clear what had happened: "We are not against Israel, but we need to say with frankness and clarity, that this policy of the Israeli government in Gaza is unacceptable and morally we cannot justify it."

(Some reporting by Reuters)