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Sad Christmas Eve in Holy Family Church in Gaza

Original Social Media Post

"At the Latin Convent Church in Gaza City, Christmas prayers were held for the Christian community. This marks the second Christmas since the war on Gaza began, with prayers and supplications that the third Christmas will only come if the war has ended. The atmosphere is one of sadness, devoid of any celebration, "Only for the sake of the children," they said during their devotional prayers. Afterward, all signs of Christmas vanish. Saint Porphyrius Church, also in Gaza, will hold prayers in a week, despite being bombed by the Israeli occupation army, where Christians and displaced Muslim neighbors were martyred. Source: islambader1988 (IG)" - Source

Geolocation source

📍 https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Holy_Family_Church,_Gaza&params=31_31_26.70060_N_34_27_7.17494_E_type:landmark_region:PS

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Archivist Notes On This Video

The Holy Family Church is the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip. This parish includes a school which provides a Christian education to children in Gaza, several religious congregations : the Missionaries of Charity, Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará who care for the elderly and disabled, and the Rosary Sisters who operate a school. The community is served by priests from the Institute of the Incarnate Word.

The church's school was bombed by the Israeli Air Force on 7 July 2024, killing 16 displaced people sheltering on the school's grounds.

Event Notes

Christmas celebration during times of genocide

Christmas 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.

The details for each video come from social media. None of it has been verified.