Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

The staff of the international Catholic relief organization Caritas Jerusalem have expressed praise and gratitude for what they describe as divine intervention following a missile strike on a Gaza church compound on July 29.

A missile fired from an Israeli battle tank struck an annex of St. Porphyrios Church in Gaza City, causing destruction and injuries but failing to detonate upon impact. This prevented potential fatalities among the displaced Palestinians, mainly Christians, who had been sheltering in the Greek Orthodox church since hostilities between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023.

“Suddenly, we were sitting in a hall next to the church when we were shocked by the force and sound of a missile hitting the building,” Nathalie Sayegh, a Caritas Jerusalem employee present during the incident, told OSV News by telephone. “There were some 70 people present in the hall at the time,” she said.

“People panicked, screaming as the missile penetrated the annex roof, hitting a room before reaching a hall filled with displaced people where the shell fell from the ceiling. It failed to explode on impact,” Sayegh added. “Thank the Lord it did not detonate; otherwise, we would have been left with nothing but remnants.”

Sayegh reported that while there was significant damage to the hall and other areas, including residences of clergy members, only three women sustained injuries from debris. One woman suffered hand injuries.

St. Porphyrios Church had previously been targeted by an Israeli airstrike on October 19, 2023. That attack resulted in significant damage and at least 18 civilian deaths after one of four buildings on the church compound collapsed.

The Israeli military attributed that explosion to one of its airstrikes targeting a nearby Hamas command post for rocket and mortar launches.

In a statement provided by Caritas Jerusalem to OSV News regarding the July 29 incident, they emphasized “the vulnerability of the displaced and the critical need for safety in conflict zones.” The organization thanked God for protecting those seeking refuge in St. Porphyrios Church and called for prayers for an immediate ceasefire.

Meanwhile, another tragic event occurred when twelve children were killed by a rocket strike while playing soccer in Majdal Shams near Lebanon. The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land condemned this attack: “These innocent lives...were taken in an unspeakable act of violence.”

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to...the entire Druze community in the Holy Land,” ACOHL said in their July 28 message. They described this loss as leaving "a profound impact."

At least forty-four others were injured during this attack. Although Hezbollah did not claim responsibility immediately after this incident, Israel later conducted an airstrike on Beirut that killed a top Hezbollah commander along with two children and injured seventy-four others.