A Catholic priest in Gaza estimates that half of the region’s Christians are sheltering within the compound of his parish.
Father Gabriel Romanelli, talking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, said that there are only around 1,000 Christians left in Gaza, and that half of them are currently sheltering within the Holy Family Church, as a consequence of the continuing conflict with Israel.
Despite the situation in Gaza being one among “extreme poverty” in keeping with Father Romanelli, those sheltering within the church consider themselves lucky to be alive.
Father Romanelli’s church has been providing aid to those sheltering within the church and to many others within the region.
He said, “Living in close quarters with 500 people isn’t easy, besides, we consider ourselves lucky.
“As we are saying, we live with Jesus, in his house, and despite every part, we manage not only to survive, but in addition to assist 1000’s of other families with food, water and medicine, though all of this is restricted, as for the past few weeks the borders have been closed to humanitarian aid.”
As well as providing emergency aid, the church provides a spot for believers to hope and to receive sacraments.
Father Romanelli said that he was praying for an end to the war and added that while many Christians had left the region, many others are determined to remain, despite war and persecution.
“Many wish to remain because they were born here, that is their land, they usually see themselves because the descendants of the primary Christians, which is indeed the case, as are all of the Christians within the Holy Land,” he said.
Some Christians have been killed because of this of Israeli actions in Gaza, including 18 people were killed in an airstrike that hit Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in 2023. In one other incident the identical yr, two women were shot by snipers on the Holy Family Church.
