Israel News for 7-22-2025
News Update
Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke by phone with Pope Leo XIV to apologize again for the accidental hitting of a Catholic church in Gaza that killed 3 and wounded several others. But the Vatican issued a statement on Monday, declaring the conversation insufficient to erase the harm caused. During Sunday prayers, the Pope accused Netanyahu of using “unreasonable force” in Gaza, condemning ongoing attacks on civilians and places of worship as “collective punishment.” The Pope called for an immediate ceasefire, stressing that Israel’s right to exist must coexist with a Palestinian state. Italian media reported Vatican concerns that escalating violence in Gaza could spark a broader Middle East conflict, potentially fueling antisemitism among global Catholics and threatening the region’s predominantly Arab and Palestinian Christian communities. A preliminary IDF investigation suggests that shrapnel from a shell fired during operations accidentally hit the church.
A police investigation found that Palestinian media claims that Jewish individuals had set fire to the Church of Saint George in Taybeh, a majority-Christian village near Ramallah, were totally false and that no damage was caused to the church. Police said, “Contrary to inaccurate reports and foreign media coverage of alleged arson at the historic Church of Saint George, these claims are factually incorrect, lack any evidentiary basis and risk misleading the public.”
25 Western nations, including Australia, Canada, France, Italy, the UK, Japan, Switzerland, New Zealand, and several EU members, issued a joint statement rebuking Israel’s actions related to humanitarian aid in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and for Israel to lift all humanitarian aid restriction and allow the UN to distribute the aid. The statement also called for an immediate release of all of the hostages. Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded: “Israel rejects the joint statement published by a group of countries, as it is disconnected from reality and sends the wrong message to Hamas. All statements and all claims should be directed at the only party responsible for the lack of a deal for the release of hostages and a ceasefire: Hamas, which started this war and is prolonging it.” It added: “Instead of agreeing to a ceasefire, Hamas is busy running a campaign to spread lies about Israel. At the same time, Hamas is deliberately acting to increase friction and harm to civilians who come to receive humanitarian aid.”
Staff Sergeant Amit Cohen, 19, from Holon, serving in the Golani Brigade, was killed in an operational accident in Khan Younis today. Sgt. Major (res.) Vladimir Loza, 36, from Ashkelon, a soldier in the 7020th Battalion, was killed in combat in Rafah. Two other soldiers were wounded in the same incident.
Israel and Syria have reportedly resumed indirect negotiations. The talks are reportedly being mediated by Turkey, with additional involvement by the United States. According to the sources, an Israeli delegation is expected to travel soon to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, to finalize understandings regarding Syria, including the situation in Sweida.
The Houthis fired 2 ballistic missiles at Israel today. The first was intercepted and the second fell short, before reaching Israeli territory.
