Top church leaders have visited Gaza after its only Catholic church was struck by an Israeli shell the day before.

Pope Leo called for an end to the "barbarity of war" on Sunday (July 20) as he spoke of his profound pain over an Israeli strike on the sole Catholic church in Gaza.

Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the loss of life and injury caused by the military attack" on the Catholic Church in Gaza.

Smoke was seen rising after strikes hit Deir al-Balah in the Gaza Strip on Sunday. It comes as the Israeli military published new evacuation warnings for areas of central Gaza on Sunday, in one of the few areas where the military has rarely operated with ground troops.

On Thursday, an Israeli shell struck the compound of the only Catholic church in Gaza, killing three people, wounding 10 and damaging the building.

Israel said Thursday that it “deeply regrets” a deadly strike on Gaza’s only Catholic church, which killed three people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Pope Leo on Friday, the Vatican said, a day after an Israeli strike on Gaza's sole Catholic church killed three people and injured several more.

The Israeli military launched attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port amid rising tensions. The Houthis have been striking ships and launching missiles toward Israel as acts of solidarity with Palestinians.