First Christmas in Gaza in two years: A story of hope and survival
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In Gaza City, Christians at the Holy Family Church celebrated Christmas Eve with prayers and the lighting of a Christmas tree for the first time in two years, following a period described as Israel's genocidal war on the Strip. Celebrations were subdued, limited to prayer services and family gatherings, due to the ongoing harsh conditions. Many attendees, displaced and having sought refuge in the church during the conflict, expressed joy at being alive but also remembered lost loved ones. The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic parish in Gaza, holds symbolic importance, and the late Pope Francis maintained close contact with the community throughout the war. While hoping for an end to suffering and a return to normalcy, the small Christian community in Gaza, which numbered around 1,000 before the war, faces a difficult reality.
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AI-ExtractedThe number of Christians in Gaza has dwindled in recent years, from 3,000 in 2007 to a few hundred today.
Most of Palestine’s Christians live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, totalling approximately 47,000 to 50,000.
The church was hit twice while we were inside, and we lost friends and loved ones during that period.
Dmitri Boulos was displaced along with his family after heavy Israeli shelling hit around his home.
The Holy Family Church in Gaza has lit its Christmas tree for the first time after two years.
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