Paris: France on Friday condemned 'in the strongest possible terms' a deadly Israeli attack that struck the Holy Family Church in Gaza, killing three and injuring around 10 others. 'The attack by the Israeli army on the Holy Family Church is unacceptable,' a French Foreign Ministry statement said.

According to Anadolu Agency, the statement added that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot spoke by phone with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to express France's solidarity with the Christian community in Gaza. The Holy Family parish is under France's historical protection, based on the Constantinople Agreements of 1913, the statement noted.

The French ministry highlighted the ongoing violence in Gaza, stating, 'Every day, dozens of civilians are killed in Gaza by Israeli bombings and gunfire.' It emphasized that these attacks are unjustifiable and reiterated that civilians and civilian infrastructure, including places of worship, hospitals, and shelters, must not be targeted.

Paris renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire and a full lifting of the humanitarian blockade. It stressed the urgent need to resume the "massive, dignified, and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians" through the UN and organizations that comply with international law.

The incident occurred on Thursday when Israeli forces attacked the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, leading to casualties. This attack is part of a months-long deadly offensive by the Israeli army on the Gaza Strip, which has included bombings of several places of worship, such as the Gaza Baptist Church and the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius.

The Holy Family Church, the sole Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, has been providing refuge to displaced Christian and Muslim Palestinians since October 2023, when Israel's offensive began. Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has continued its offensive, resulting in the deaths of nearly 58,600 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children.

In a related development, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.