Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Holy Family in Gaza, describes life in the midst of war and destruction as a constant nightmare. The Christian community in the Gaza Strip is struggling to survive – and losing members, faith and dignity.
Federico Piana and Mario Galgano – Vatican City
It was October 7 that changed everything: Gabriel Romanelli, priest of the only Catholic community in the Gaza Strip, remembers that day with horror. The horrific blasts that continue to this day came like a storm, killing lives and terrorizing the Holy Family community. Families took refuge in the church, not knowing what had happened but hoping to save themselves and their loved ones. “From that day on, nothing was the same,” Romanelli says in a dramatic statement to Vatican media. The effects of the war were devastating: before the attack there were more than 300 Christians, today there are less than 700. Every day the priest receives a call from the Pope inquiring about the welfare of some of the survivors.
Father Romanelli’s memories are marked by sadness and horror. Israel’s reprisals destroyed most homes and killed dozens of people in the Christian community in the first few months. “This is a tragedy of unprecedented proportions, but we are used to wars and deaths,” he says in a resigned tone. But this time the pain seems deeper. Gaza is a “torn city,” he explains, a metropolis that collapsed in a matter of months. Nothing works anymore: no sewage system, no electricity, no drinking water. The war destroyed everything the residents once needed to survive.
Smoke and Destruction: Everyday Life in the Gaza Strip
An omnipresent threat
An ever-present threat is the Israeli drones, whose constant sounds like a piercing sound terrify the remaining Christians in the parish. “If you haven’t experienced it, you can’t understand it,” Romanelli says. This sound symbolizes the nightmare that people have been living since that terrible day.
A year ago, life in Gaza was already difficult, but still dignified. Today people live in despair, with destroyed homes, inaccessible schools and jobless. A social life no longer exists. However, society has not yet completely lost faith in God. “Faith in God is strong, but faith in people often fades,” says the priest thoughtfully.
On October 7, Bethlehem inflicted deep wounds. Ronnie TabashAn Arab Christian who runs a shop selling religious goods next to the Basilica of the Nativity describes the situation in depressing terms: “Our life is at a standstill, our shop is empty, without pilgrims we are on the edge of the abyss. .” Economic disaster hit Bethlehem hard. 85 percent of the residents earn their money from pilgrims – but now the town is deserted. Ronnie Tabash, whose business supports 25 families, fears for their livelihood. Many Christians consider fleeing, but few, like Tabash, stay. They want to protect the Christian faith in the birthplace of Jesus. But how long they can hold out is uncertain.
In Palestine, the life of Christians in the Gaza Strip and Bethlehem is at a critical juncture. Not only does the war destroy cities, but he ends up hoping for a peaceful future.
(Vatican News)
