“Is this the beginning of the end? Let us hope so.” Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family Church — the only Catholic church in Gaza — made these comments in response to the recent 21-point US peace plan proposal to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip reported by some Arab and Israeli media outlets. As has often happened in the past, this “hanging” question rekindles the dashed hopes of the people of Gaza for an end to the war that has so far caused over 60,000 deaths, many of them women and children, in addition to the almost complete destruction of civilian neighbourhoods and districts.
“There have been so many casualties, and many people are still lying under the rubble,” remarks Father Romanelli.
The Catholic church, located in the eastern neighbourhood of al-Zaitoun in Gaza City, north of the Strip, currently houses approximately 450 internally displaced, including sick and elderly people as well as severely disabled children who due to their condition cannot be transported elsewhere. The displaced are being cared for by the Sisters of Mother Teresa. The 21-point plan proposes the return of all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased, an end to Israeli military operations with the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the resumption of humanitarian aid distribution to the local population. The onus now falls upon the parties concerned to provide a response to the proposed accord.
There is no respite in Gaza. Sadly, Father Romanelli adds: “As we have seen many times over the past two years of war, hopes for peace have been dashed, and it is difficult to rekindle that hope.”
“We have suffered and continue to suffer great hardship. Time and again, announcements were made that the situation would change, but nothing ever happened; in fact, it has only deteriorated further.”
“Shelling attacks continue to be severe, impacting distant areas as well as neighbouring areas, with shrapnel falling inside the church grounds. The noise is deafening. The air is filled with smoke and dust, but we have become somewhat accustomed to it by now.” “Here in Gaza, we lack everything,” insists the parish priest. “Not only do we need food, water, medicine and fuel, we also need clean air, oxygen, sunshine, warmth and serenity.” Dust, smoke and incendiary explosives pollute the air. The electricity supply is intermittent, and there is hardly any fuel left to run the few remaining cars. Young Palestinians are producing fuel by burning plastic and mixing it with cooking oil to make it last longer. There is no natural gas, so residents burn firewood for domestic cooking. Initially, people burned ‘natural’ wood, but since this has become unavailable, residents have started burning whatever they can find, including furniture, windows and tables. Taking a moment to breathe in Gaza is not an option. “Since the outbreak of the conflict, there has scarcely been any milk, vegetables or fresh fruit available, with only a few rare exceptions,” recalls Father Romanelli. “After almost two years of war and bombing, the population has had no respite and people are depressed.”
Showing mercy. According to the parish priest, many residents of the northern part of the Strip are heading south. “Several neighbourhoods have been destroyed and many of the residents have fled. Some say as many as 400,000 or 500,000 people have left, while others claim the number is much higher. However, he explained in a video sent to SIR on 28 September, many residents in the centre and eastern part of the city are still unwilling or unable to leave.” The Catholic Church complex remains a sanctuary of solidarity and aid for thousands of local Gazans. “We continue to serve the poor, the needy and the refugees, including those from the nearby Greek Orthodox Church of St Porphyry, providing whatever food, water and medicine we have. With the medicines we provide, doctors are performing near-miracles,” the parish priest remarks in the video.
“Showing mercy is one way to end this war.”
Father Romanelli emphasized this notion in a video he released a few days ago: “There are some terrible stories. These people are facing immense suffering; they pray to God for mercy to end their suffering and for the war to end soon. I am grateful to Pope Leo XIV for his constant calls for peace and to Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who is doing everything he can to support the local population. Let us all cling to God. Let us all try to be better persons, even in small things. Let us pray for all, for the living and the deceased, remembering that we were all created by God.”
