Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza, has clarified that no evacuation order has been issued for the parish and its surrounding area.
“There has been no order of evacuation in this area of our neighborhood. Our area is in the Old City of Gaza, within the larger neighborhood of Zeytoun,” Fr. Romanelli told Vatican News on August 19.
While stressing that the parish remains intact, the priest admitted the situation continues to be dangerous. “Bombings can be heard night and day. Some far away, others closer. At times, even shrapnel arrives,” he said. “Unfortunately, the war continues. And, with the war, every day more dead, wounded, and destruction are added... and the needs of every kind for the entire civilian population of Gaza grow.”
Despite the challenges, Fr. Romanelli expressed gratitude for the community’s safety. “We are well, thanks be to God,” he said. “We continue to pray for peace.”
Since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, several hundred people have sought refuge at the parish, the only Catholic church in Gaza. The church itself suffered an attack on July 17 when a tank round struck its compound, killing three people and injuring several others, including Fr. Romanelli, who sustained a minor leg wound.
Vatican News noted that following that attack, Pope Leo XIV prayed publicly for the victims by name, condemning what he described as the “barbarism of war.” The pope renewed his appeal for a just and lasting peace, calling on all sides to respect human life and dignity.
The parish continues to shelter displaced families, providing food, medicine, and spiritual comfort amid the ongoing violence.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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