Gaza Strip’s Christians taking refuge in area’s only Catholic church

Michie · Oct 12, 2023

Pastor joins voices of those warning of devastating effect of Israel's siege on Palestinian territory.

There are fewer than 1,100 Catholics living in the Gaza Strip. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to the 2 million people packed into the small territory.

The area along the Mediterranean is under siege and bombardment by the Israeli military, following the attack on Israel by Hamas last Saturday.

Holy Family parish of Gaza comes under the jurisdiction of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. In an interview on the LPJ website, Holy Family’s pastor, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, said on Wednesday that some 200 parishioners are taking shelter in the church, monastery, St. Thomas Aquinas Center, Holy Family School, along with several congregations of women religious: Sisters of the Incarnate Word, the Rosary Sisters, and Sisters of Charity.

“Many of them are currently being welcomed by the Church, particularly the residents of the Rimal area, which has been subjected to violent bombardment,” said Fr. Romanelli, a missionary with the Institute of the Incarnate Word, a congregation established in his homeland, Argentina. “I was informed that four of our Christian families have lost their homes, destroyed by the war. They are currently staying in the church building.”

Fr. Romanelli told the unnamed interviewer that he is not currently at his parish, and is unable to get back to the Gaza Strip, although the assistant pastor, Fr. Joseph, is there. He addressed concerns about shortages of vital supplies, as Israel has cut off electricity, water, fuel, and medicines.

Continued below.