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Christian mourners during a funeral for the victims of an ‘Israeli’ strike on the Holy Family church in Gaza City. (July 17, 2025)

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Critics slam ‘Israel’s’ condolences over terrorist church attack in Jordan

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‘Israel’s’ expression of condolences for a deadly attack on a Christian church in Jordan has drawn sharp criticism for what many see as a stark double standard, given the extensive damage to Christian and Muslim places of worship during its assault on Gaza.


Read more: Three injured in Karak church attack discharged from hospital


On Saturday, ‘Israel’s’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered what it claimed was its “profound condolences” to Jordan and the families of the victims after gunmen opened fire during a funeral at Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hmoud in Karak governorate on Friday.

 The attack killed nine people and wounded around 40.

The ministry described the targeting of a place of worship and the killing of “innocent believers” as “a severe assault on freedom of religion,” and wished recovery to the wounded.

Critics argue the language rings hollow. Gaza’s Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs has reported that ‘Israeli’ forces destroyed or severely damaged roughly 80–90 percent of the territory’s mosques since October 2023—figures citing more than 1,000 of approximately 1,200–1,250 mosques affected, with hundreds completely leveled.

Local authorities have also documented damage to churches.

Notable incidents include an October 2023 ‘Israeli’ airstrike on the compound of the Church of Saint Porphyrius, one of Gaza’s oldest churches, which killed at least 18 people, many of them civilians sheltering there.

In July 2025, a strike hit the Holy Family Church—Gaza’s only Catholic church and a shelter for hundreds of displaced people—killing three and wounding others, including the parish priest.

‘Israel’ claimed the latter was accidental, caused by stray munitions or a deviation during operations, expressed regret, and said it was investigating.

Observers and Palestinian officials have long accused ‘Israel’ of systematically damaging religious infrastructure.

UNESCO and other assessments have verified damage to multiple religious and cultural sites, though overall numbers from Gaza authorities are higher and not fully independently confirmed in every case.