By PJ Usanga
In the wake of the attack on Isreal over the weekend by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, the the Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, an Argentine priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) has disclosed that the parish has taken in more than 80 Christians and other Muslim neighbors of their school who are in need of accommodation and shelter.
Fr. Romanelli who made the disclosure in a statement to News Men about the situation of the attack, narrated that the surprise attack by the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip began in the early hours of October, 7 by land, sea and air. He added that countless missiles hit Israeli cities, where civilians were also kidnapped and subjected to Hamas’ murderous depravity, including babies, women and children.
“The first offensive left at least 40 dead and 700 injured, according to the first official reports. The death toll has now surpassed 1,600. There are hundreds of dead and thousands of injured among the population,” the Priest narrated.
The Gaza Pastor also revealed that he was stranded in Bethlehem for two days after the conflict began, until he was able to get through to return to the parish, and confirmed that all their men and women religious in the Holy Land of Palestine and Israel are okay, but that the mission in Gaza is the one that is going through very difficult times.
Recalling a saying of Pius XII, which St. John Paul II also repeated, the Priest asked for prayers for peace, because according to him, “nothing is lost with peace, but everything can be lost with war.”
“I want to hope and I ask God to stop everything. There is nothing impossible for God. But watching the news, there are signs that suggest that it is not going to be over quickly. I hope it does not go on any longer, that it is over quickly, but I have a feeling that it is going to be something longer and more intense.”
Furthermore, Fr. Romanelli expressed his gratitude for the closeness, concern and prayers, along with the hundreds of messages he receives every day, and promised to continually pray and work hard for the Catholic mission in Gaza, and for the good of all.
However, the Holy Father, Pope Francis has extended his closeness and prayers for the entire Church community of Gaza and all the parishioners and inhabitants and imparted his paternal blessings on them.