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GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian Center for Human Rights on Thursday denounced an attack on a Catholic church in Gaza City, the group said in a statement.

The PCHR urged the Gaza government to "seriously investigate the shameful crime," which they said was foreign to "the traditions and values of our people."

The statement said that a blast was heard at around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday in the courtyard of the church, which is affiliated to the Latin Patriarch in the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City.

Initial reports from Gaza police indicated that a homemade explosive devise was planted under a bus that belonged to the church, the statement said.

Police also found "inappropriate" graffiti on a wall inside the courtyard, according to the statement.

AFP reported that a hand grenade exploded in the church's courtyard late Wednesday, without causing any casualties or damage.

"In the middle of the night, unknown assailants threw a hand grenade at the church. It landed in the courtyard and exploded but caused no damage or casualties," a parish official told AFP.

"We won't let this juvenile and irresponsible act affect us and will carry on our work as normal," the source said, requesting anonymity.

According to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, around 1,550 Christians live among the 1.5 million, predominantly Muslim, residents of the Gaza Strip.

AFP contributed to this report.