Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of the only Catholic church in Gaza, Holy Family Parish, said Monday that an evacuation order was issued by Israeli forces for the al-Zaytun neighborhood surrounding the parish in Gaza City.
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The Aug. 18 order was part of a broader Israeli plan to relocate Palestinians from northern Gaza, where the parish is located, to designated zones in the south. Earlier this month, Israel revealed its plan to occupy Gaza.
Romanelli expressed concern about the feasibility of relocating Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants, however, asking: “Where can they find the space for all the inhabitants?” He said Israel was distributing tents to facilitate the evacuation.
The Israeli military said the relocation plan is necessary to protect civilians amid the ongoing two-year war, which has led to a humanitarian crisis due to severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies, with Caritas Jerusalem reporting that “people are dying of hunger” and “all the children are suffering from malnutrition.”
Despite the evacuation order, Romanelli noted “contradictory signs,” saying an aid group continued to distribute vegetables to civilians.
The Holy Family Parish compound, which contains a school, convent, a multipurpose center, and a Missionaries of Charity building, has been a critical shelter since the war began in October 2023. It has been housing over 600 people, the majority of whom are Orthodox Christians, Protestants, and Catholics, as well as at least 50 Muslim children with disabilities and their families.
Holy Family Parish ‘accidentally’ attacked in July
Romanelli and eight others were injured and three civilians were killed after Israeli munitions hit the church in July.
In response to the attack, Pope Leo XIV said “it is time to stop this slaughter” and renewed his call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, expressing his desire for dialogue, reconciliation, and lasting peace in the region.
On social media platform X the day of the attack, the account of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated: “Israel deeply regrets that a stray ammunition hit Gaza’s Holy Family Church. Every innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the grief of the families and the faithful.”
“We are grateful to Pope Leo for his words of comfort. Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and holy sites,” the prime minister’s account continued.
Israel Defense Forces said it regretted the attack and maintained after the investigation that the attack was accidental, calling it a “deviation of munitions.”
On July 18, Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited Holy Family Parish alongside Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III to offer support following the attack.
Israelis protest Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza
In Tel Aviv, hundreds of thousands of people protested against the Israeli government over the weekend, demanding an end to the war and arguing that Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza could endanger the approximately 20 hostages still held by Hamas.
Regarding its occupation, Israel has a five-step plan that includes disarming Hamas, releasing all remaining living and deceased hostages, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, establishing temporary Israeli control over the enclave, and eventually replacing Hamas with a friendly Arab civil administration.
Netanyahu said of Sunday’s protests, which led to dozens of arrests: “Those who today call for an end to the war without defeating Hamas are not only hardening Hamas’ position and delaying the release of our hostages, they are also ensuring that the horrors of Oct. 7 will be repeated,” referring to the Hamas attack in 2023 that left 1,200 dead and started the war.
During yesterday’s Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church, an explosion damaged a nearby water tank, though no injuries were reported from the incident.
“Another Sunday of war,” Romanelli said.
This article was originally published by CNA.
