Ancient church in Gazan village struck by missile, IDF reports

St Mary Church Gaza Iqrit Melkite Greek Catholic

An ancient church in a disputed Gazan village is severely damaged after being struck amid the ongoing firefight between Israel and Hamas, according to reports.

The Church of St. Mary in the destroyed village of Iqrit was hit by a missile this week, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

"Hezbollah attacked the St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church of Iqrit in northern Israel," the IDF reported via social media. "An anti-tank missile from Lebanon directly hit the church, injuring a civilian."

St. Mary's is a Greek Catholic church, not Orthodox.

"This attack is not only a clear violation of [United Nations] Security Council Resolution 1701, but also a violation of the freedom of worship," the IDF wrote.

Iqrit is an uninhabited village in the northern region of modern-day Israel. IDF forces took the land during the First Arab-Israeli War and destroyed the village in 1951.

St. Mary's Church was the only building spared by the IDF and remains a gathering place for descendants of the original displaced villagers, who celebrate monthly mass there as they seek the right to return.