An Israeli shell slammed into the compound of the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, killing three people and wounding 10 others, including the parish priest, according to church officials. The late Pope Francis, who died in April, had regularly spoken to the priest about the situation in the war-ravaged territory. The shelling of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza on Thursday also damaged the church compound, where hundreds of Palestinians have been sheltering from the 21-month Israel-Hamas war. Israel expressed regret over what it described as an accident and said it was investigating. Pope Leo XIV renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in response to the attack.

The U.N. reports that child malnutrition in Gaza has doubled since Israel restricted food entry in March. By June, over 10% of children under age five screened by UNRWA were acutely malnourished, compared to 5.5% in March. UNICEF also documented a sharp rise in cases. Israel eased the blockade slightly in May, but aid remains insufficient. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 90 Palestinians in 24 hours, including women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Strikes on homes and shelters have caused significant casualties. Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire have stalled, with no breakthrough after recent U.S.-Israel talks.

Europe and Israel have reached a new deal to allow more food and fuel into Gaza. The European Union's foreign policy chief said on Thursday that the plan could result in "more crossings open, aid and food trucks entering Gaza, repair of vital infrastructure and protection of aid workers." The announcement came as an Israeli airstrike killed 10 children and five adults outside a medical clinic to receive critical nutritional supplements and other care. The Israeli military says it was targeting a militant when it struck near the clinic. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel continues to pursue a deal for a 60-day pause in the fighting and the release of half of the hostages still held in Gaza.

The Israeli military says five soldiers have been killed in an attack in northern Gaza. Health officials in the Palestinian territory say Israeli strikes killed 51 people. The bloodshed came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting the White House on Tuesday for talks with President Donald Trump about a ceasefire plan. There was no announcement of a breakthrough from that meeting. But there were signs of progress toward a deal. The soldiers' deaths could add to pressure on Netanyahu to strike a deal in Israel where polls have shown widespread support for ending the 21-month war.