At the White House press briefing on July 17, EWTN White House Correspondent Owen Jenson asked White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt about the Catholic church in Gaza that had been struck that day by an artillery shell.

"In Gaza today, Holy Family Catholic Church was struck by an Israeli shell," Jenson said.

"Yes," said Leavitt.

"Three people were killed, 10 wounded," Jenson continued. "What is the president's reaction to that church coming under fire?"

"It was not a positive reaction," Leavitt said. "He called Prime Minister Netanyahu this morning to address the strikes on that church in Gaza, and I understand the prime minister agreed to put out a statement. It was a mistake by the Israelis to hit that Catholic Church. That's what the prime minister relayed to the president -- and you should look at the prime minister's statement that will be coming out."

Later that day, the Israeli Prime Minister's office issued a statement. He also called Pope Leo XIV and, as noted in a posting on X, "expressed Israel's regret for the tragic incident."

"Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza's Holy Family Church," said Netanyahu's statement. "Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the........

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