TikTok Genocide
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited the graves of Nahida Antoun and her daughter Samar Antoun killed by Israeli sniper on December 16, 2023
Original Social Media Post
"بمناسبة عيد الميلاد المسيحية ، زار الكاردينال بييرباتيستا بيتسابالا قبور ناهدة أنطون وابنتها سمر أنطون، اللتين قُتلتا برصاص قناص إسرائيلي في 16 ديسمبر 2023، في كنيسة العائلة المقدسة الكاثوليكية في غزة ." - Source
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Archivist Notes On This Video
Translation of the caption : "On the occasion of Christmas, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited the graves of Nahida Antoun and her daughter Samar Antoun, who were killed by an Israeli lone gunman on December 16, 2023, at the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in Gaza."
On 16 December 2023, two Palestinian Christians, Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar Kamal Anton, were shot and killed while they were walking inside the grounds of the Holy Family Church to go to the bathroom by an Israeli sniper. When the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the killing of the two women on 16 December, the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican lashed back, accusing the patriarchate of engaging in blood libel.
Context of the Cardinal visit
On December 22, 2024, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, entered Gaza for the fourth Sunday of Advent to celebrate Mass with the small Christian community in the enclave with the parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. This visit, his second since October 7, 2023, allowed him to preside over pre-Christmas mass and administer the sacrament of Confirmation. Cardinal Pizzaballa emphasized that Gaza's Christians have become a symbol of hope and light for the global Church.
His visit comes after Pope Francis accused the IDF of preventing his entry, though the army denies this.
In his homily, Cardinal Pizzaballa encouraged Gaza’s Christian community to remain rooted in Jesus to endure the ongoing conflict, emphasizing that faith in Christ provides the strength to face adversity. He highlighted the failure of human promises and the persistence of violence but urged the people to find hope in their faith. Confident that the war would end, he reassured the community that they would rebuild schools, hospitals, and homes.
The Cardinal also emphasized the importance of resisting hatred, urging Gaza’s Christians to preserve unity and faith in Christ. He called on them to remain firm in their beliefs, praying for the end of the war, and to witness Christ's light to the world, showing that they belong to the light of Christ, not to darkness or violence.
Event Notes
Christmas celebration during times of genocideChristmas in Gaza – December 2024
This Christmas, like the last, is marked by sorrow and minimal celebrations for many Gazan Christians. Traditionally a time for family reunions and travel, such gatherings are now impossible due to the ongoing conflict.
As the second Christmas under Israeli bombardment approaches, nearly 1,000 Palestinian Christians are sheltering in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius and the Latin Monastery in the center of Gaza City. For over a year—since the beginning of Israel’s assault on the Strip—they have lived in these two churches with little access to food, water, or electricity.
Over the past 14 months, both the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius and the Latin Monastery have been repeatedly attacked by Israeli forces, despite serving as shelters for displaced Palestinians. These churches have historically opened their doors during previous wars. Since October 7, 2023, Israel has bombed and targeted churches and civilian shelters, killing dozens. In December 2023, Israeli snipers killed two women and injured others in the courtyard of the Latin Monastery.
Many Palestinians, including around 300 Christians, have since fled Gaza.
People in Video
Cardinal Pierbattista PizzaballaThe details for each video come from social media. None of it has been verified.