Church leaders in Jerusalem have returned from a rare visit to Gaza with what they described as “broken hearts,” after witnessing widespread destruction and extreme suffering.
They described scenes of starvation, trauma, and displacement among the civilian population particularly children unfazed by the sound of bombings.
“We have seen men waiting for hours in the sun in hopes of receiving a simple meal,” said Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa during a press conference. “This is humiliation that is hard to bear when you see it with your own eyes. It is morally unacceptable and unjustifiable.”
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III echoed the sentiment, pledging that his church would “stand in solidarity” with “the whole people of Gaza.”
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Their visit came after an Israeli strike on the Catholic Holy Family Church in Gaza City killed two women and a man last week. About 400 people had been sheltering in the compound, which lies in a part of the city under Israeli evacuation orders.
The strike reportedly prompted an angry call from U.S. President Donald Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s office later expressed “deep regret,” claiming the deaths were caused by stray ammunition.
However, many local Christians have questioned whether the church was deliberately targeted. “Three people died in our community, but thousands have already died in Gaza,” Pizzaballa noted, emphasizing that Christians were suffering alongside other Palestinians.
He also commented on the violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank, including recent attacks in the Christian village of Taybeh, which he called part of a “broader phenomenon” of lawlessness.
Italy’s foreign ministry said the patriarchs entered Gaza with 500 tonnes of aid, but Pizzaballa revealed that “not a gram” of it had been distributed due to logistical issues. He described the disappointment of those who came to the church hoping for help.
Pizzaballa recounted scenes of devastation: “We walked through the dust of ruins, past collapsed buildings and tents everywhere in courtyards, alleyways, streets, and along the beach. Tents have become homes for those who’ve lost everything.”
Last week, both patriarchs led a diplomatic delegation to Taybeh, where residents and local clergy described settler attacks, including a fire near the ruins of the ancient Byzantine Church of St. George.
Israeli police said no damage was done to the church itself and that the fire was confined to an adjacent area. They also said arson was not yet confirmed. However, witnesses and locals accused settlers of starting the blaze and Israeli security forces of failing to respond to complaints.
Daoud Khoury, former mayor and co-founder of the Taybeh Brewery, warned that extremist settlers and economic hardship since the Gaza war began could force Christians to emigrate. “It’s driving people out as Israelis take our land,” he said.
In a rare move, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited Taybeh on Saturday, denouncing the fire near the church as “an act of terror” and calling for “harsh consequences” for the perpetrators.
Huckabee, an evangelical pastor known for his support of Jewish settlements, stated, “Desecrating a church, mosque, or synagogue is a crime against humanity and God.”
Responding to Israeli police statements, he clarified that he had not blamed any group for the fire but insisted it was a crime that deserved consequences.
At the Jerusalem news conference, Theophilos III emphasized that Gaza’s Christian community must be supported to remain close to their historical holy sites.
Pizzaballa told an Italian newspaper during the trip that the Catholic presence in Gaza would continue “whatever happens.”
Both church leaders reiterated calls backed by Pope Leo and many international leaders for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages held by Hamas.
“We are not against Israel,” said Pizzaballa, a known advocate for interfaith dialogue. “But we must speak with honesty and clarity: the current policy of the Israeli government in Gaza is unacceptable and morally unjustifiable.”
BBC
