The only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip held somber Easter celebrations on Sunday for hundreds of displaced Palestinian Christians who have been sheltering within its compound since the war began nearly six months ago.
The Holy Family Church, located in Gaza City, has become a refuge for families who have been struggling to survive amidst the ongoing conflict. With limited food and medical supplies, the displaced families have been facing immense challenges, similar to all Palestinians in northern Gaza.
Father Davide Meli, the chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, expressed the difficult circumstances faced by the families at the church, stating that they have been “scraping to get by” for months. Despite the hardships, he emphasized that Easter is a significant holiday for all, including Muslims celebrating Ramadan.
The priest of the Holy Family parish, Father Gabriel Romanelli, has been unable to return to Gaza since the war began in October. More than 500 people are currently seeking shelter at the Holy Family Church, along with approximately 300 others at the nearby Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, making up the majority of Gaza’s Christian population.
Both churches have been targeted during the conflict, with the Saint Porphyrius church suffering a deadly airstrike in October and the Holy Family Church facing violence in December. The incidents have drawn condemnation from religious authorities, including Pope Francis, who called for an immediate cease-fire in his Easter address.
As the global community continues to monitor the situation in Gaza, the Easter celebrations at the Holy Family Church serve as a reminder of the resilience and faith of the displaced Palestinian Christians amidst the ongoing turmoil in the region.
