As violence and starvation deepen in Gaza, the priest of the area’s only Catholic church told a pontifical charity, “We remain in the hands of the Lord”. Source: OSV News.
Fr Gabriel Romanelli of Holy Family Parish in Gaza – who sustained a leg injury in a widely condemned July 17 Israeli strike on the church that killed three and wounded more than 10 – shared his latest thoughts in a message to Aid to the Church in Need.
The Argentine-born Fr Romanelli said the charity that he and his community remain “deeply affected by the facts” of the July 17 attack, but “continue to do good, protecting the children, the sick and the wounded.
“Here we are, after these terrible days of war, and especially these bombings: 15 people were hit, three of them died and two are still in serious condition,” Fr Romanelli told ACN.
He said he was grateful for the assistance provided by the agency and all those who help sustain the Church in the Holy Land.
“Firstly, I want to say thank you for the prayers and friendship of Aid to the Church in Need, which fill our hearts,” Fr Romanelli said.
“And besides that, I know that ACN has plenty of initiatives to help the Christians in the Middle East, especially in these parts of the Holy Land, in the West Bank and in Gaza.”
Since the start of the Israel-Hamas War, which was sparked by the latter’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, hundreds have sheltered at the Holy Family complex.
In December 2023, a woman named Nahida and her adult daughter Samar were killed by Israeli firepower at Holy Family as they walked to the convent. Seven others were wounded in that attack.
So far, more than 60,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry. Some 1200 Israelis have been killed and more than 5400 injured.
Of the 251 Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 50 remain in captivity, with only 20 of them believed to still be alive, with 83 of the hostages confirmed killed to date. More than 100 were released later in 2023; eight were rescued by Israeli forces.
FULL STORY
Gaza pastor: ‘We remain in the hands of the Lord’ (By Gina Christian, OSV News)
