A Catholic bishop has denounced the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza and has called for urgent prayer for the people of Gaza City and specifically for the small group of Christians in town.
Israel is currently planning a significant offensive to take Gaza City – a part of its wider campaign to achieve complete control over the Gaza Strip. Tens of hundreds of reservists have been called up and operations could begin as early as next week.
Israel has told civilians in Gaza City to evacuate to the south. However, in a joint statement earlier this week the Latin (i.e. Catholic) and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem, said that given the severe privations suffered by the population, not least famine, an evacuation order was “nothing lower than a death sentence”.
The Church of Saint Porphyrius (Eastern Orthodox) and the Holy Family Church (Catholic) are two of only three churches in Gaza. Throughout the conflict, each have been used as refuges by lots of of Christians caught up within the conflict.
Many of those looking for refuge are women and youngsters, and the elderly. The Holy Family Church has also taken in lots of with disabilities, who’re placed under the care of the Sisters Missionaries of Charity. Many are weakened and malnourished.
Now Bishop Nicholas Hudson, Chair of the International Affairs department of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has called upon Catholics to wish for those caught up within the conflict and specifically to recollect the clergy and nuns who’ve chosen to risk their lives by staying in Gaza City.
“In the face of forced displacement, they’ve chosen to stay and proceed to look after the vulnerable, disabled, and all who shelter of their compounds,” he said.
Bishop Hudson said he was particularly concerned for Father Gabriel Romanelli, who heads the Holy Family Church. Fr Romanelli was known to be near Pope Francis within the last months of the late pontiff’s life. The pope called Father Romanelli and the Holy Family Church nearly day by day during his final months.
Fr Romanelli was recently injured when an Israeli shell hit the Holy Family Church compound, killing three and wounding 10.
Bishop Hudson said, “Fr Romanelli has worked tirelessly to guard the people sheltering within the parish – especially the kids who, he says, are resigned to the horror of what is happening around them. He prays with them and seeks to distract them from the violence.
“He comforts all who shelter at Holy Family with the sacraments of the Church and the reassurance that Christ holds them and suffers with them. We need now to redouble our prayers for all who remain there.
The bishop also said, “I add my voice to those of the Patriarchs in denouncing the Israeli government’s actions – that this approach is flawed; that it’s unattainable to justify the deliberate and forcible mass displacement of civilians.”
Bishop Hudson concluded with a call for prayer to finish the war and for justice for each the Palestinians and Israelis, who’re still attempting to get well around 50 hostages held by Hamas.
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