One year since Gaza church raid: 'Emergency remains'

One year ago, on July 17, Israeli forces conducted a raid on the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza, killing three civilians including two women and a man. The attack left the small Christian community in the Strip devastated, with the church becoming an unofficial shelter for many during the ongoing conflict. Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the only Catholic church in Gaza, referred to the victims as “martyrs.” Among them was Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh, a 60-year-old man, and two women, Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad and Najwa Abu Dawud, who later died from her injuries. The incident occurred shortly after October 7, when Israel launched its military operation in response to attacks from Palestinian groups. The Church of the Holy Family had previously served as a refuge for the local Christian population, despite being targeted by Israeli strikes. The raid caused partial collapse of the building but spared the cross atop it. The attack led to the injury of Father Romanelli, who suffered a broken leg. The violence sparked outrage among Western governments, with leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron condemning the civilian deaths as unjustified. U.S. President Donald Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing disapproval over the casualties, though Netanyahu later apologized to Pope Francis, calling the strike an “error” by the army. In the past year, some changes have taken place, including a fragile ceasefire agreement. However, reconstruction efforts remain stalled, and the population continues to face severe hardships. Monsignor William Shomali, the general vicar and patriarchal vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine, noted that “80 percent of the infrastructure has been destroyed,” leaving the residents of Gaza with new challenges. Father Romanelli described the situation as an ongoing emergency, particularly concerning transportation. He explained that the cost of fuel has skyrocketed, with one liter of oil priced between 500 and 700 dollars, a dramatic increase from around seven dollars just months earlier. As a result, communities are developing makeshift transport solutions, including communal car-sharing using vehicles pulled by donkeys. Father Romanelli highlighted the struggle to restore even basic normalcy, especially in relation to education. The summer program organized by the parish aims to prepare for the reopening of schools in September. Despite the limited space available within the church compound, he reported that more children than ever are participating in the activities. However, the area remains divided by a yellow line marking the boundary between the territory controlled by Israeli forces and the residential areas inhabited by civilians. According to Monsignor Shomali, today’s residents live in only 47 percent of the Strip, while the remaining 53 percent is under Israeli control, leading to extremely high population density. Children in the region are increasingly forced to engage in survival activities, such as gathering firewood, instead of attending school. The lack of educational facilities has created a pressing need for alternative learning environments. The parish’s summer program represents one such effort, offering hope amid the ongoing crisis. While the situation remains dire, the resilience of the local community persists, driven by faith and determination to rebuild their lives.