Clergy and nuns in Gaza City are refusing to leave their churches, despite Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz saying “the gates of hell will soon open”.
A joint statement by the Latin and Greek Orthodox Patriarchates of Jerusalem, lead by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilos III, says clergy and nuns will remain in the city to care for vulnerable refugees who are sheltering there, as Israel confirms it will launch a further ground offensive into the region.
“Leaving Gaza City and trying to flee to the south would be nothing less than a death sentence. For this reason, the clergy and nuns have decided to remain and continue to care for all those who will be in the compounds,” reads their statement.
The Catholic leaders said that the situation is already “hell on Earth”, with many Gazans including the elderly, disabled and young children “weakened and malnourished” due to mass starvation under IDF control.
The statement comes as vigils are being held for five journalists killed in an Israeli airstrike, alongside 15 other citizens. The journalists worked with the Associated Press, Reuters, Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye.
In Britain, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has reiterated the Holy See’s call for a two-state solution, calling it “the only viable option to bring security and peace to Israelis and Palestinians.”