JERUSALEM, Dec 23 ― Khalil Sayegh lives within the United States and for days he anxiously awaited information of his household who had taken refuge in Gaza church buildings to flee the Israel-Hamas struggle.
A couple of days earlier than Christmas, he realized his father had died as a consequence of a scarcity of medical care, Sayegh stated by phone from Washington DC the place he works as a political analyst.
“I used to be instructed by a relative… who had realized it from a priest,” he stated.
The information left him feeling shattered, he stated, including that he has but to talk with different relations caught in Gaza which has been beneath heavy Israeli bombardment since Hamas’s bloody October 7 assaults.
Mobile and web providers, in addition to electrical energy, have been largely disrupted within the Palestinian territory for the reason that struggle broke out.
“Days go by with out us having any information,” stated Sayegh, 29.
“We dwell with concern… not understanding if they’re lifeless or alive, if they’ve meals and water or if they’re hungry.”
Sayegh’s household ― his mother and father, two sisters and a brother ― are among the many 1.9 million individuals the United Nations estimates have been displaced within the territory of 2.4 million.
His mother and father and one sister took shelter on the Catholic Holy Family Church in Gaza City, whereas his youthful brother stayed in Khan Yunis as he wants kidney dialysis.
His different sister fled to the close by Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox church along with her husband and two youngsters. While there she gave start to a 3rd baby, a boy named Khader.
About 7,000 Christians lived in Gaza earlier than the Islamist motion Hamas took management of the Palestinian territory in 2007, in response to the Gaza authorities. Now they quantity round 1,000.
The Hamas authorities says greater than 20,000 individuals have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched air strikes and a floor offensive. Most of the lifeless are ladies and kids.
It got here in retaliation for Hamas’s October 7 assault that killed about 1,140 individuals in Israel, largely civilians, in response to an eNM tally primarily based on Israeli figures.
The struggle has diminished a lot of Gaza to rubble and put out of motion most of its hospitals, notably within the north of the territory, the United Nations says.
Food, medication, water and gas are laborious to come back by.
A person sits within the abandoned Grotto, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, within the Church of the Nativity within the biblical metropolis of Bethlehem within the occupied West Bank on December 20, 2023 forward of Christmas amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas within the Gaza Strip. ― eNM pic
‘Pray for us’
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that on December 16 two Christian ladies have been “murdered” by an Israeli military sniper inside the identical church the place Sayegh’s household are sheltering.
Pope Francis deplored the deaths, which he stated occurred in a church complicated “the place there aren’t any terrorists however families, youngsters, people who find themselves sick and have disabilities”.
The Israeli military stated it had “no reviews of successful on the church”, stressing it “doesn’t goal civilians, irrespective of their faith”.
Back in Washington, Gaza-born Sayegh stated he has placed on maintain research he was enterprise within the subject of human rights.
“I simply can’t operate 100 per cent,” he stated.
“The solely factor that retains me going is to speak about what is occurring and to keep in mind that the individuals of Gaza don’t have any voice of their very own.”
Sayegh isn’t the one particular person keen for information of family members trapped in Gaza.
A Jerusalem-based nun, who declined to be recognized, stated she is simply in a position to attain two different nuns sheltering on the Holy Family Church each three or 4 days.
“They say they’re effectively and ask us to wish for them,” she stated.
On Monday, they instructed her that water provides have been lower and that none of the displaced had been in a position to bathe for at the least two weeks.
“God be with them. Their scenario is depressing.”
Father Ibrahim Nino of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem stated the displaced on the church have sufficient meals, water and electrical energy to final them days and have to be frugal.
But regardless of the tough scenario, he stated, they’ll have fun Christmas mass.
This yr, church leaders in Jerusalem and town council of Bethlehem ― dwelling to the Church of the Nativity the place Christians consider Christ was born ― determined to dampen Christmas celebrations in solidarity with Gazans.
And in a Christmas message, the patriarchs and heads of church buildings in Jerusalem lamented that “hope appears distant and past” attain for Gazans caught up in 11-weeks of lethal violence.
“Christmas needs to be a time of hope and celebration,” stated Sayegh. But “it’s actually laborious to have fun or really feel any pleasure when Muslims and Christians are being massacred in Gaza and harmless civilians are dying.”
“I nonetheless rejoice in the truth that we all know God is with us… He feels the ache of individuals, of all individuals.” ― eNM
