❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Greek Orthodox and Latin Patriarchates of Jerusalem say Israel is demanding they leave their churches in Gaza and evacuate, but they intend to remain where they are.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Greek Orthodox and Latin Patriarchates of Jerusalem, the Israeli armed forces, and Gazans.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The Greek Orthodox and Latin Patriarchates of Jerusalem released a joint statement on August 26.
💬KEY QUOTE: “There can be no future based on captivity, displacement of Palestinians, or revenge,” the joint statement reads.
🎯IMPACT: Intensification of the war in Gaza could lead to the destruction of one of the oldest Christian communities in the Holy Land.
The Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic Latin Patriarchates of Jerusalem have issued a joint appeal warning of a humanitarian catastrophe as Israel prepares to take control of Gaza City. In their statement, the Patriarchs condemned “the gates of hell” scenario unfolding in Gaza, where “massive military mobilization” and evacuation orders are forcing hundreds of thousands, including the Christian minority, to flee south.
Clergy and nuns at the Greek Orthodox compound of Saint Porphyrius and the Catholic Holy Family complex declared they would not flee. They say they are sheltering malnourished children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, describing leaving as “nothing less than a death sentence.” They argue that “There can be no future based on captivity, displacement of Palestinians, or revenge.”
Their plea echoes the words of Pope Leo XIV, who recently affirmed: “All peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected… especially the right to live in their own lands; and no one can force them into exile.”
In an address on August 13, the America-born pontiff expressed deep concern about Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, warning, “The humanitarian crisis must be resolved… they must be freed. But we must also think of the many who are dying of hunger.
On July 17, 2025, an Israeli strike on Gaza’s only Catholic Church, Holy Family parish, killed three civilians and wounded ten, including parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. The building had become a refuge for both Muslims and Christians, including children with disabilities. Israel labeled the attack accidental, caused by stray tank fire, but the Patriarchate challenged this, saying it amounted to a grave violation of sanctity.
In response, Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III made a rare personal visit to Gaza on July 18. They brought hundreds of tons of emergency aid, coordinated evacuations for the injured, and offered solidarity to survivors.
President Donald J. Trump is reported to have been furious about the strike on the church, communicating his anger over the incident to the Israeli government directly.
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