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Christians in Gaza

Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa speaks during a joint press conference with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, not pictured, following their visit to the Gaza Strip, in Jerusalem, July 22, 2025. (Mahmoud Illean/AP)
July 22, 2025, 9:23 pm
Gaza war must end, says top Catholic official in Israel after visiting damaged church
At joint press conference with Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III, Cardinal Pizzaballa says situation ‘morally unacceptable and unjustifiable,’ calls for release of Israeli hostages
By Lazar Berman
Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd after the Angelus prayer in Piazza della Liberta in front of Palazzo Apostolico on July 20, 2025 (Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)
July 20, 2025, 4:01 pm
Pope urges immediate end to ‘barbarity’ of Gaza war after church damaged
Leo XIV’s condemnation of ‘indiscriminate use of force’ comes days after IDF tank fire damaged Holy Family Church, which Israel says was accidental
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (C) poses for a picture with people and children at the Holy Family Church in the Zeitoun neighbourhood of Gaza City on December 22, 2024. (Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP)
December 24, 2024, 2:38 pm
Latin patriarch visits Catholic community in Gaza for second time since war’s start
Pierbattista Pizzaballa visits Holy Family parish in Gaza City, home to some 400 sheltering Christians, for an early Christmas Mass; reports worse conditions than he saw in May
By ToI Staff
Illustrative - A Palestinian woman prays by a relative's tomb as others bury their dead following overnight Israeli airstrikes, at a cemetery in east Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 26, 2024. (Photo by SAID KHATIB / AFP)
April 9, 2024, 3:13 pm
Unable to travel to northern Gaza, Christians bury their dead in Muslim cemeteries
Worker at Muslim cemetery in Rafah area says he’s doing what’s necessary to ‘protect God’s creations on this earth’ amid ongoing war, mass displacement
By Reuters and ToI Staff
Nahida Khalil Anton (left), and her daughter, Samar (via X)
December 21, 2023, 1:15 pm
IDF again denies killing mother and daughter at Gaza church, cites Hamas fire in area
After review, army says Hamas fired RPG from vicinity of church, soldiers fired back and hit Hamas ‘spotters’; Latin patriarchate claimed women were killed by IDF sniper fire
By ToI Staff and AFP
Nahida Khalil Anton (left), and her daughter, Samar (via X)
December 18, 2023, 1:01 am
IDF refutes claim it targeted sole Catholic church in Gaza after 2 women said killed
Army says review found no indication of parish being hit or civilians harmed, after patriarchate says mother and daughter were killed by IDF sniper fire; pope condemns ‘terrorism’
By ToI Staff and AFP
File: Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Church in the Holy land Pierbattista Pizzaballa, leads a mass to Gaza Strip Palestinian Christian worshipers in the Roman Catholic Holy Family Church during the start of the Christmas holiday, in Gaza City, on December 19, 2021. (Atia Mohammed/Flash90)
December 17, 2023, 10:45 am
Christian mother, daughter killed while sheltering in Gaza church, patriarch says
Sole Catholic church in Gaza claims pair killed by IDF sniper fire, generators and water source struck by tank; British MP says her family sheltering in church ‘days away from dying’
By ToI Staff
Tourists visit the Church of the Nativity, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, November 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
November 25, 2021, 6:17 am
Israel to give Gaza Christians entry permits for Christmas holiday
Some 500 of the Strip’s 1,000-strong minority allowed to travel to Israel and the West Bank for the holiday season as Israel eases restrictions
By Agencies and ToI Staff
Hanadi Missak, a 48-year-old Christian woman, adjusts the ornaments on her Christmas tree, during an interview in her house in Gaza City, on December 22, 2019. (MAHMUD HAMS/AFP)
December 23, 2019, 8:19 pm
In Gaza, a somber Christmas after permits row
Church leaders say normally straightforward process of getting travel rights to visit Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and the West Bank has become very difficult
By AFP and ToI Staff
A Christian pilgrim kisses an icon of the Virgin Mary in the Church of the Nativity, the site where Christians believe Jesus was born, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on December 18, 2019. (Musa Al Shaer/AFP)
December 22, 2019, 8:34 am
Catholic leaders ask Israel to let Gaza Christians visit Bethlehem for Christmas
After military liaison only permits travel abroad, church heads say Christians in Strip have ‘the right… to celebrate the birth of Jesus the messiah in the place of his birth’
By ToI Staff
A Palestinian shopkeeper outfits mannequins with Santa Claus clothing outside his shop in Gaza City on December 25, 2017. (AFP Photo/Mohammed Abed)
December 13, 2019, 2:22 pm
Israel says Gazan Christians can’t travel to Israel, West Bank for Christmas
Citing security considerations, military liaison to Palestinians says permits will only be issued to travel abroad; NGO slams move as ‘extreme violation’
By ToI Staff
Orthodox Christian worshipers at an Easter service at the St. Porphyrios church in Gaza City, April 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
April 23, 2019, 2:28 am
PA: 300 Gazan Christians permitted to enter Jerusalem for Easter as of Tuesday
Israeli security official confirms entry approved to capital and the West Bank; human rights group criticizes ‘small, arbitrary’ permit quota
By Adam Rasgon
Orthodox Christian worshippers hold candles during the Easter Eve service at the St. Porphyrios church in Gaza City, Saturday, April 15, 2017. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)
April 19, 2019, 3:39 pm
Official: Israel to grant Gaza Christians permits to visit Jerusalem for Easter
Even if travel documents are issued it is unclear whether they will be able to make it to Holy City by Sunday, though many could travel later in the month for Orthodox Easter
By Adam Rasgon
Palestinian Christian couple from the Gaza Strip leaves through the Israeli Erez crossing, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009 (photo credit: Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90)
March 30, 2018, 3:26 am
Gaza Christians dismayed as Israel restricts entries over Easter
COGAT says only Gazans younger than 16 or over 55 can cross border because of worries they will overstay permits
By AP
Elias Zarina
December 29, 2017, 2:38 pm
Elias Zarina
The Mideast haven of Israel
I live in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, and it’s true: only the Jewish state treats us Christians well
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