Eucharistic edoration at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza, led by the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, in December 2024. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Gabriel Romanelli
ACI MENA, Sep 19, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
ThecityofGazacontinuestoreelasIsraeliairstrikespoundmultipleneighborhoodsandtheconflictthereescalates.
DaysafterIsraeliPrimeMinisterBenjaminNetanyahuannouncedthelaunchofagroundoperationurgingcivilianstoevacuatedesignatedcombatzones,IsraeliDefenseMinisterYisraelKatzhasmaintainedthatGazafacestheriskofmassivedestructionunlessHamasreleasesIsraelihostagesandsurrendersitsweapons.
Amidthisturmoil,theHolyFamilyCatholicChurchintheal-ZeitounneighborhoodofsouthernGazahasbecomebothaspiritualcenterandarefuge,shelteringabout600peoplefrombothChristianandMuslimfamilies.Thechurchprovidesameasureofcalmasshellscontinuetofallnearby.
InthesameneighborhoodstandsthehistoricOrthodoxChurchofSt.Porphyrius,whichmaintainsitscenturies-oldpresenceintheterritory.Ittoohasservedasashelter,thoughforasmallernumberofpeople.
Thetwochurch
