Gaza’s Christians refuse to leave churches ahead of Israeli assault
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Despite evacuation orders in parts of Gaza City, many Christians are refusing to abandon their churches as Israel prepares for a major offensive.
At the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, hundreds have been living as refugees for more than a year. In July, an Israeli tank shell struck the church, killing three and injuring several. They are now in fear of losing their home again.
The Holy Family Church is not in the zones Israel marked for evacuation. But other churches, including the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius and the Anglican St Philip’s, are. Still, many of the displaced remain unwilling to leave. Nearly 550 people are sheltering at the Holy Family Church alone.
Community leaders warned in an August 26 statement that forced displacement would be “nothing less than a death sentence.” They wrote, “Among those who have sought shelter within the walls of the compounds, many are weakened and malnourished due to the hardships of the last months. For this reason, the clergy and nuns have decided to remain and continue to care for all those who will be in the compounds.”
Church spokesperson Farid Gibran emphasised that remaining there was a voluntary choice made freely. He added that within the compound, a strong sense of solidarity existed between Christian and Muslim refugees, who were working diligently to ensure food and water for children and the elderly.
Many feel that the church is the only safe place left.
Priests explained that the community’s presence in the church held deep symbolic value, representing centuries of historical continuity in the land. Father Gabriel Romanelli, who was injured in the July attack, said that for the refugees, staying was about more than survival—it was an act of symbolism, reflecting the protection of a place that embodies their community’s history.
The church compound has faced repeated attacks since December 2023. An Israeli sniper killed two women inside, and an air strike damaged solar panels and water tanks. The Israeli army later claimed a July strike was stray fire. Pope Leo XIV said he was “deeply saddened” by the deaths.
Throughout the war, the Vatican has kept direct ties with the community. Pope Francis called the parish almost daily. In July, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, along with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, visited Gaza with food and medical supplies.
Yet shortages continue.
