A Catholic priest wounded in a deadly shelling of the only Catholic church in Gaza has said the Christian community continues to be resilient amidst difficult times.
Fr Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of Holy Family Catholic Church in Gaza City, was injured when an Israeli Defense Forces tank shell struck the church compound on 17th July. The attack killed three people and left 12 others wounded, including Fr Gabriel, who sustained injuries to his leg and side.
“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,” he said in a message shared with the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
“I want to say thank you for the prayers and friendship of Aid to the Church in Need, which fill our hearts.”
Despite the trauma, Fr Romanelli expressed unwavering trust in God: “We are deeply affected by the facts of Thursday, 17th July, but we remain in the hands of the Lord. We continue to do good, protecting the children, the sick and the wounded.”
The Holy Family Church, now a shelter for more than 500 displaced people—including children, the elderly, and those with disabilities—has become a symbol of refuge and hope in the heart of the conflict.
Following a temporary ceasefire on 27 July, to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, Fr Gabriel said: “We wait for peace. It is absolutely necessary. Once more, thank you so much for all the spiritual, moral and material help.”
Last week, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, issued a stark warning about the urgent need for aid: “Refusing [humanitarian assistance] is not a delay, but a sentence. Every hour without food, water, medicine and shelter causes deep harm.”
In response to the growing crisis, ACN has expanded its support for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Aid efforts now include food coupons, medicine, and trauma counselling for those caught in the crossfire.
