Jerusalem's church leaders visit wounded in Gaza City following Israeli strike on Catholic church

Описание: (18 Jul 2025)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4591145

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gaza City, Gaza Strip - 18 July 2025
1. Various of Patriarchs Pizzaballa and Theophilos III walking through a crowd outside Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City
2. Theophilos III inside hospital blessing wounded man'
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Theopilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem:
"Our situation where we live in Jerusalem is not that easy and we follow up what is going on, but we are thankful and grateful, like I said, first and foremost, to our priests who are serving here."
4. Theopilos blessing
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem:
"(We are) United in Christ, united even more and more here in Gaza."
6. Patriarchs inside Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Alexios, Greek Orthodox Archbishop:
"This is the land of Palestine and the Palestinians they have the right to stay in their land."
8. Patriarchs posing for photo
STORYLINE:
Top church leaders in Jerusalem headed into Gaza Friday in a rare solidarity visit to the territory one day after an Israeli shell slammed into its only Catholic church, killing three people.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III prayed together at the Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius and later paid a visit to the wounded at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City.

The Patriarchs also visited the Holy Family Catholic Church, which was struck in the attack.

The delegation was also planning on sending hundreds of tons of food aid, medical supplies and equipment to families inside Gaza, the patriarchate said, adding they also had "ensured evacuation" of individuals injured in the attack to hospitals outside Gaza.

The attack drew condemnation from world leaders and religious figures.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack and President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his frustration.

Israel on Thursday expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating.

The visit by religious leaders on Friday marked a rare entrance to the territory by a delegation of outsiders.

Production by Wafaa Shurafa

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