Israeli strikes kill 22 in Gaza, church late pope often called is damaged
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Crispian Balmer
CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli forces killed at least 22 people in attacks in the Gaza Strip on Thursday and several were hurt in a strike on a church that late Pope Francis used to speak to regularly, medics and church officials said.
Eight men tasked with protecting aid trucks were reported among the dead in airstrikes that were carried out as mediators continued ceasefire talks in Doha.
A U.S. official said this week the talks were going well but two officials from the Palestinian militant group Hamas told Reuters they had made no progress on key issues and had stalled.
Several people were wounded in a morning "raid" on the Holy Family Church, including parish priest Gabriel Romanelli, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said in a statement in the incident at the only Catholic church in Gaza.
Father Romanelli, an Argentine, used to regularly update the late Pope Francis about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. TV footage showed him sitting receiving treatment at Al-Ahly Hospital in Gaza, with a bandage around his lower right........
© Al Monitor
