Gaza Strip. P. Romanelli (parish priest): "A further escalation of the conflict would indeed be devastating". Christians praying in front of the 5 tabernacles

"The situation is very tense. Today it's all closed, schools, public buildings. We are waiting for this wave of tension to pass and we pray that there will be no further escalation of the conflict. It would be really devastating for all the gazawis who already live a difficult daily life due to the lack of basic services and safe life prospects ".

Father Gabriel Romanelli, while celebrating a baptism in Gaza

So father Gabriel Romanelli, the Latin parish priest of Gaza tells Sir what is happening in the Strip. They are hours of great tension after last night Israel – in a joint operation of the Army and Shin Bet, the Israeli security service – killed Baha Abu al-Ata, military leader of the Palestinian Islamic jihad, held responsible by Israel for the majority rockets launched by the enclave in the last year. Jihad would also be responsible for several attacks against Israeli soldiers during the "Great March of Return" protests that have been repeated every Friday along the border for over a year and a half. A targeted murder that prompted the militants' immediate reply: "Our reaction will make the Zionist entity tremble," they said before launching dozens of rockets from Gaza to Israeli territory. Israeli media report about 150 rockets and mortar shells launched from the Gaza Strip against central and southern areas of Israel since last night. Sixty rockets would have been intercepted by the Iron Dome system. The Israelis responded with a military aircraft that killed two militiamen in the Northern Strip. In total the budget of the Israeli operation is 4 dead and 25 wounded. In a tweet, the Israeli Foreign Ministry writes that "Israel will defend itself from the Islamic Jihad financed by the Iranians, a terrorist group that has launched countless attacks against our civilian population".

A small flock. "Our small community, just under 120 faithful, is fine. Many families are at home. I have heard the leaders of our groups and movements and religious communities ". For today

"Every activity is suspended for security reasons".

Father Gabriel, of Argentine origins, has been in Gaza for a month as pastor of the Latin parish of the Holy Family. He too, like his predecessors, is a missionary of the Institute of the Incarnate Word. Already provincial of his Institute for the Middle East and Africa, he is now in Gaza, helped by two confreres, Father Giuseppe and Father Mario, his predecessor. Father Gabriel knows the Strip well for having served there for three and a half years, as an extraordinary vicar, under the guidance of the historical pastor of the Latin gazawis, Father Manawel Musallam. "I went for four or five days a month to Gaza, from Beit Jala, on the advice of the then patriarch Michel Sabbah. I visited the sick and helped the parish priest in ordinary pastoral care, ”recalls Father Romanelli.

Tensions and wars in Gaza have never been lacking but neither has hope. "Today I return with the desire and hope of serving in this small community, Catholic and Christian, but very active – says the parish priest – we have schools that are very much appreciated and attended by a very large majority of young Muslims, there are several works of charity carried out , to give an example from the sisters of Mother Teresa who run a house with about 50 small disabled and a center for vulnerable elderly, with two sections, male and female. With us there are also the Sisters of the Incarnate Word who help us in the pastoral care, in the oratory that is suspended today because of the very critical situation. But every day we have groups of faithful who find themselves in the parish. Scouts and Caritas are also very active ”. The biggest challenge is always:

"To face the exodus of Christians. Without certain prospects there are many who want to leave "

explains Father Romanelli. “As a Church we have been carrying out projects for some time now, aimed at creating jobs and training. With the first few young people have found a stable occupation and this is a sign of hope for many others of their age.

The Latin parish in Gaza

In the center 'Tommaso d'Aquino', wanted by my predecessor, Father Mario Da Silva, our young people can be trained in Theology and Sacred Scripture to obtain the diploma, and also study other subjects, such as foreign languages, computer science, which may be help them with a job. These are initiatives to be implemented but for this we also need the support of everyone to not feel abandoned ”. Between rockets and bombings the gazawa Christian community remains firm in its commitment: "Serving the cause of peace and justice, reconciliation and dialogue.

In fact, our work is addressed to all Gazans, without distinction of faith. There are many that revolve around our activities. They love us and value the Christian presence because they know that it works for the good of all and for all. We have 5 tabernacles, between parish and religious communities, before which we raise prayers to the God of peace every day. Five tabernacles like five are the wounds of Christ. Prayer soothes the suffering of the Calvary that we live in the Strip ”.