A Catholic priest in Gaza has warned that civilians continue to face devastating conditions despite an agreed ceasefire, as renewed strikes and a deepening humanitarian crisis left families struggling to survive.
Speaking to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Father Gabriel Romanelli said the situation in the strip remained “very serious”, adding that “the war is not over” for Gaza’s population.
The only Roman Catholic parish priest in Gaza said ongoing bombing, destruction of homes and continued deaths were being recorded, particularly beyond the Yellow Line, which is the military frontier established at the time of the ceasefire on 10 October 2025.
Despite the ceasefire, authorities in Gaza said more than 500 Palestinians had died since it came into effect, while renewed strikes on Wednesday killed at least 20 people, most of them women and children, according to hospital officials.
Speaking before the latest attacks, Fr Romanelli said: “The 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza need at the very least to have the minimum human conditions to rebuild their lives.”
He said thousands of people were living in rain-soaked tents, with borders closed and electricity and water infrastructure in ruins, contributing to the spread of disease.
According to UNICEF, 100 children have died since the beginning of the ceasefire, which equates to almost one child per day.
Fr Romanelli said epidemics were worsening due to a lack of heating, shelter and medicine, adding that the hospital system had become “a phantom”.
The priest said aid provided by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and organisations including Aid to the Church in Need had been vital, adding that the patriarchate continues to support thousands of families across Gaza.
His comments come as the Rafah Border crossing between Gaza and Egypt partially reopened on Monday for limited pedestrian traffic, including medical evacuations.