“It is time to end this spiral of violence, to put an end to war and to prioritize the common good of the people,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilos III, respectively the Latin and Greek Orthodox patriarchs of Jerusalem, said.
“We do not know exactly what will happen on the ground, not only for our community, but for the entire population. We can only repeat what we have already said: There can be no future based on captivity, displacement of Palestinians or revenge,” they said.
Hundreds of civilians, including elderly people, women and children, have found refuge in the Greek Orthodox compound of Saint Porphyrius and the Roman Catholic Holy Family compound, both in Gaza City, since the outbreak of war following the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Holy Family has for years hosted people with disabilities under the care of the Missionaries of Charity sisters.
“Like other residents of Gaza City, the refugees living in the facilities will have to decide according to their conscience what they will do,” the statement said. “Among those who have sought shelter within the walls of the compounds, many are weakened and malnourished due to the hardships of the last months. Leaving Gaza City and trying to flee to the south would be nothing less than a death sentence.”
“For this reason,” the patriarchs said, “the clergy and nuns have decided to remain and continue to care for all those who will be in the compounds.”
The two patriarchs protested Israel’s plans to take control of Gaza City, noting that “in recent days, the media have repeatedly reported a massive military mobilization and preparations for an imminent offensive.”
On Aug. 20, Israel’s military disclosed plans to call up 60,000 reservists ahead of a new offensive in Gaza City.
The Latin and Greek Orthodox patriarchs said that “evacuation orders were already in place for several neighborhoods in Gaza City,” which they noted is home to their shared Christian community, with media reports indicating that Israel would move the population to southern Gaza.
Referencing a threat against Hamas invoked recently by both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, the statement said, “It seems that the Israeli government’s announcement that ‘the gates of hell will open’ is indeed taking on tragic forms.”
They repeated what Pope Leo XIV said to a group of refugees a few days ago: “All peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, especially the right to live in their own lands; and no one can force them into exile.”
They said, “It is time to end this spiral of violence, to put an end to war and to prioritize the common good of the people. There has been enough devastation, in the territories and in people’s lives. There is no reason to justify keeping civilians as prisoners and hostages in dramatic conditions. It is now time for the healing of the long-suffering families on all sides.”
In two years of war, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces, including over 18,000 children. Israel believes that Hamas is still holding about 20 living hostages who were abducted from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The patriarchs concluded by appealing to the international community to bring an end to the war and facilitate the release of Israeli hostages, and asking for prayers “that all our hearts may be converted, so that we may walk in the paths of justice and life, for Gaza and for the whole Holy Land.”
The Rev. Gabriel Romanelli, the Argentine-born parish priest of Holy Family parish whom Pope Francis used to call by phone almost every day, has also decided to stay with the some 500 people cared for in the compound, young and old, including many with disabilities. He broadcast a message in Spanish on YouTube even as bombs exploded some 1,000 to 3,000 feet from where he was speaking. He showed the grey clouds that arose from the sites of the explosions and spoke of the smell. He shared that people feel very tired and there is a lack of food, medicine and sometimes electricity. He also spoke of the need for patience and prayer. He showed videos of him saying Mass in Arabic and children praying even as bombs exploded nearby.
“Let’s pray that they reach an agreement, they talk again about negotiations to hand over all the hostages, to let humanitarian aid in and to stop military operations, especially the seizure of Gaza City, which, with a million people, would be a disaster,” he said
He told Italy’s RAI TV, “The situation is very serious, very delicate in Gaza City where we are, but we will not leave.” Other priests and some nuns of the Incarnate Word Order have also vowed to remain.
One of Father Romanelli’s close collaborators, George Anton, the head of the emergency committee of Holy Family Church, appealed to the world to stop the war in Gaza. In an interview with the Italian website “Between heaven and earth,” carried by Italy’s daily, La Repubblica, he launched a desperate cry for help: “Help us stop this war, because it is madness! Do you understand? Everyone is dying here, from bombings and hunger. And those who say there is no hunger should come and see for themselves!”
“Why are they doing it?” he asked. “I don’t care. What interests me is humanity.”
Like the priests and nuns, Mr. Anton has no intention of leaving Gaza City despite Israel’s demands: “We will not leave here, we have nowhere else to go. We cannot do anything, we have nothing, only faith and prayer.”