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 with limited food and medical supplies. Father Davide Meli, the chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, described the situation as dire, with the looming threat of a full-scale famine in the region.
Father Gabriel Romanelli, the priest of the Holy Family parish, has been unable to return to Gaza since the war started in October. Despite the challenges, the church continues to provide shelter for over 500 people, along with the nearby Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, which houses approximately 300 others.
Both churches have faced attacks during the conflict, with the Saint Porphyrius church being hit by an Israeli airstrike that killed 18 people in October. The Holy Family Church also experienced tragedy when a mother and daughter were killed by Israeli snipers inside the compound in December.
Pope Francis condemned the attacks on the churches, emphasizing that they are places of refuge for families, children, and people with disabilities. He called for an immediate cease-fire in his Easter address on Sunday, urging for an end to the violence and suffering in Gaza.
