Gaza – Zaytoun News
Christmas Eve Mass was observed on Tuesday evening at the Holy Family Church, the only Latin Catholic church in the Gaza Strip. The celebration had a somber tone, as the ongoing Israeli aggression weighed heavily on the Christian community.
The Mass, held according to the Western calendar, was limited to prayers inside the church due to the difficult circumstances and continued aggression, which has resulted in the killing and injuring of approximately 20 Christian citizens.
Worshippers expressed their hopes for an end to the aggression, a return to peace, and a future in which their children can live in safety and stability. The usual joy and happiness associated with Christmas were absent, overshadowed by the ongoing conflict and the loss of innocent lives.
Since the start of the Israeli aggression 15 months ago, around 1,000 Christian citizens have sought refuge in the Holy Family Church for Latins and in Saint Porphyrius Church for the Greek Orthodox in Gaza City. Many were later forced to flee to the southern Gaza Strip or leave the area altogether.
The community has endured direct attacks, including an incident on December 16, 2023, when Israeli snipers killed a woman and her daughter and injured seven others in the courtyard of the Latin Church. On October 19, the Greek Orthodox Church was deliberately targeted, resulting in the killing of 18 citizens.
Both churches and their surroundings have suffered damage from Israeli airstrikes. Several institutions affiliated with the churches, including schools, health centers, the YMCA, the Mother Teresa Convent, the Holy Family School, and the Arab Ahli “Baptist” Hospital, have also been bombed.
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