Christians in Gaza hold church services to urge end to Israeli attacks

By Yakoota Al Ahmad and Zeynep Tufekci Gulay

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - Prayers have been offered during services at two churches in the blockaded Gaza Strip, appealing to end Israel's ongoing 9-day attacks.

Amid Israel's ongoing attacks on Gaza, Christian Palestinians conducted religious services at the Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church and the Holy Family Catholic Church, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

As a result of Israel's ongoing attacks since Oct. 7, some Christian families whose homes were destroyed sought refuge in the Holy Family Church and its affiliated school.

Isa Muslih, the Jerusalem Greek Orthodox Church spokesman, said, "The world must take immediate action to stop the genocide committed against innocent Palestinians."

Muslih called for ending this war, pressure on the occupying Israeli government, and establishing safe corridors for delivering food, baby formula, and medical aid to vulnerable civilians in Gaza.

It is estimated that around 1,000 Palestinian Christians live in Gaza.
Some Palestinian Christians have also been displaced and turned into refugees due to the Israeli occupation, forcing them to leave their homes.

- Israel-Palestine conflict

On Oct. 7, Israeli forces launched a sustained military push against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel – a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the operation retaliated for storming Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers' growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has endured a crippling siege since 2007, as well as ordering more than 1 million Gazans in the northern strip to evacuate to the southern strip.