Recently, SAT-7 ARABIC’s You Are Not Alone program interviewed the leader of Gaza’s Holy Family Church, who chose to stand by his congregation’s side following a deadly strike on the building and a mounting famine crisis in the territory. He emphasized the hope that the people in the church have despite the uncertainty of the conflict.
The Holy Family Church was hit by the strike on July 17. Father Gabriel Romanelli was among 15 people who were injured during the blast, which claimed three lives.
“There were strikes around us, but we never expected them to hit the church,” he said. “The church almost got hit before. It is a shock, but we are also part of Gaza, and we are used to the dead and injured. We have hope in the Lord, but we don’t know when the war will end. We can’t see any signs of it.”
Romanelli emphasized that although he is not Palestinian, he refuses to leave Gaza. “It is my duty to be by my congregation’s side,” he said.
SAT-7 has been in contact with the Holy Family Church throughout the conflict and reassured them of our ongoing support and concern after the strike.
Famine Concerns
International concerns have been mounting in recent weeks over reports of widespread famine in Gaza, amid haunting images of children suffering from severe malnutrition. Temporary and partial pauses in military activity are taking place in parts of Gaza this week to allow vital aid in, with the UN aid chief Tom Fletcher describing the next few days as “make or break.”
“We are in need of everything,” said Romanelli. “There’s a shortage of everything. Every day people are dying… There’s a shortage of food. There’s a famine. We need water and medicine.”
The Holy Family Church has been sheltering over 500 people, Christians and Muslims, since the start of the war.
Please Pray:
- For essential aid to reach all those in need as quickly as possible
- For the congregation at the Holy Family Church as they recover from the strike and mourn for those lost in the blast
- For an end to the war in Gaza, and for lasting peace and justice throughout the Holy Land
