{"id":3843,"date":"2025-08-18T14:18:02","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T14:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=3843"},"modified":"2025-08-18T14:18:02","modified_gmt":"2025-08-18T14:18:02","slug":"inside-gazas-only-catholic-church-one-month-after-israels-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunowner-news.com\/?p=3843","title":{"rendered":"Inside Gaza’s Only Catholic Church, One Month After Israel’s Attack"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n The funeral of Fumya Ayaad and Saad Salama on the night of July 17, 2025, in the Church of Saint Porphyrius.<\/span>\u00a0Photo: Khames Alrefi<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since the beginning<\/span> of the genocide in Gaza, Israel has repeatedly attacked religious sites, including mosques and churches. In October 2023, only days after the brutal attacks began, the Israeli military struck the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, the oldest church in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least 18 people.<\/p>\n

On July 17, 2025, in what survivors describe as a blatant violation of human and religious values, an Israeli fighter jet bombed the Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza, without any prior warning. The strike killed three people and injured at least nine others, three of them critically.<\/p>\n

Among the dead were Saad Salama, the parish\u2019s 60-year-old janitor; Fumya Ayaad, an 84-year-old woman receiving psychosocial support inside a Caritas tent within the church compound; and Najwa Abu Dawood, 71. Najeeb Tarazi, a man with disabilities, was among the seriously injured. The parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, also suffered a leg wound.<\/p>\n

One month after the attack on the church, I spoke to some of the survivors about what they experienced that day \u2014 and how they are continuing to survive, and worship, within the walls of Holy Family, which remain standing despite the damage.<\/p>\n

Wasn\u2019t This Supposed to Be a Sanctuary?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This was not the first time the Holy Family Church had been targeted. Israeli raids had previously struck the church twice during the ongoing genocide. Since the beginning of the onslaught, the compound had sheltered between 500 and 600 Palestinian Christians \u2014 about 200 families \u2014 including children, the elderly, and 54 people with disabilities. For them, the church had been a sanctuary amid the destruction and horror.<\/p>\n

Father Romanelli was known for his daily calls with the late Pope Francis, who remained in contact with Gaza\u2019s Christians until his death in April 2025. These conversations brought a sense of comfort to the Christian people. Pope Francis had repeatedly condemned Israel\u2019s conduct and even suggested that accusations of genocide in Gaza warranted investigation.<\/p>\n

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\n Father Gabriele Romanelli attends to the injured after Israel bombed the Holy Family Church on July 17, 2025.<\/span>\u00a0Photo: Khames Alrefi<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the morning of the strike, after completing his prayers and a work meeting, Father Romanelli encountered Suhail Abu Dawood<\/a>, 19, a young postulant of the Institute of the Incarnate Word, on the staircase. When the attack began, Romanelli rushed to help someone else before being injured himself. Suhail sustained a serious shrapnel wound to his side and was hospitalized. Videos circulated on social media later showed Romanelli with his right leg bandaged.<\/p>\n

The shelling of the church damaged its compound, and the main church building sustained heavy damage. This latest assault on civilians who had sought safety within the church has left us heartbroken. Israel said, as always, that it regretted the incident, describing it as accidental, and promised an investigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cGone to a Place Where There Is No Pain, No Sorrow\u201d<\/h2>\n

Shadi Abu Dawood, 46, lost his mother, Najwa, that morning. His son Suhail was critically injured alongside Father Romanelli.<\/p>\n

The day before she died, Najwa asked her son to take her picture.<\/p>\n

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\n Shadi Abu Dawood with hi mother, Najwa Abu Dawood, on July 16, 2025, one day before the Israeli strike killed her.<\/span>\u00a0Photo: Courtesy Shadi Abu Dawood<\/span> <\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

\u201cShe told me, \u2018Take a photo for me, my son. I want to travel and get treatment,\u201d Shadi said. She had been suffering from a hip fracture since the beginning of the genocide; she could barely walk.<\/p>\n

That morning, Shadi went to get bread from a nearby baker. Najwa sat in the courtyard with other women.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen came the massacre, exactly at 10 a.m. The scene was horrifying \u2014 my mother was covered in blood and wounded in the head. I kept calling her: \u2018Mom, wake up, Mom, wake up.\u2019 She\u2019s now gone to a place where there is no pain, no sorrow,\u201d Shadi lamented.<\/p>\n

Najwa was known for her deep faith.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe always taught the children to pray, to love the Bible, and to hold on to faith. She prayed constantly,\u201d Shadi told me. \u201cAttacking churches by the Israeli occupation is unjustified, brutal action. We love peace and call for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

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