Pastor of the only Catholic Church in Gaza denies evacuation order

Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the only Catholic Church of Gaza, denied this Friday that there was an evacuation order in that area, after Vatican News published a note about it on Monday, which It has been erased.

“There has been no order of evacuation in this area of ​​our neighborhood. This area called ‘Ciudad Vieja’ (Old City), always within the great neighborhood of Zeytoun, has not received an evacuation order. We are fine, thank God. Let’s pray for peace,” wrote the Argentine priest in his X account.

That said by the priest has to do with Israel’s plan to relocate the Palestinians of Northern Gaza, where the parish is located, towards designated areas in the south. Earlier this month, Israel revealed its plan to occupy Gaza.

In a video published this Friday on YouTube, Romanelli shared that “the situation remains bad, what am I going to tell you” and reiterated that “in this area of ​​the neighborhood there has been no evacuation. It continues in several areas, enough areas north of the city.”

The priest of the Institute of the Incarnate Word also indicated that “there are still bombings in the southern zone, in the east zone, everywhere. We continue to pray, the children continue to come, sometimes more, sometimes less.

Romanelli also stressed that, in spite of everything, the activities in the church of the Sagrada Familia who directs: “For example today, they will project the second part of the life of Father Pío. So that also helps.”

To conclude, the priest encouraged, in the framework of the day of prayer for peace in the world, convened by Pope Leo XIV, to continue “praying so that we never come to evil with evil, but to evil with good, as our good God taught us Jesus Christ. Not let himself be over Peace period ”.

Israelis protest against Netanyahu’s plan to occupy Gaza

In Tel Aviv, hundreds of thousands of people protested against the Israeli government During the past weekend, demanding the end of the war and arguing that Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza could endanger the hostages that Hamas still maintains.

Regarding its occupation, Israel has a five -step plan that includes Hamas, freeing all the remaining live and deceased hostages, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, establishing an Israeli temporary control over the enclave and eventually replacing Hamas with a friendly Civil Administration.

Netanyahu spoke on Sunday’s protests, which led dozens of arrests: “Those who today call to end war without defeating Hamas not only harden Hamas’s position and delay the release of our hostages, but also ensure that the horrors of October 7 are repeated,” referring to Hamas’s attack in 2023 that left 1,200 dead and began the war.

During the Sunday Mass of August 17 in the Church of the Sagrada Familia, an explosion damaged a nearby water tank, although they were not reported injured by the incident.

“Another war Sunday,” Romanelli said.

The parish of the Sagrada Familia was attacked “accidentally” in July

The complex of the parish of the Sagrada Familia, which contains a school, a convent, a multipurpose center and a building of the missionary of charity, has been a critical refuge since the war began in October 2023.

He has been housing more than 600 people, most of whom are orthodox, Protestant and Catholic Christians, as well as at least 50 Muslim children with disabilities and their families.

Romanelli and eight other people were injured and three civilians died after Israeli ammunition hit the Church in July.

In response to the attack, Pope Leo XIV said that “it is time to end this massacre” and renewed his call to a high immediate fire in the Gaza Strip, expressing his desire for dialogue, reconciliation and lasting peace in the region.

In his account in the social network X, the day of the attack, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, declared: “Israel deeply regrets that a lost ammunition has impacted the church of the Holy Family in Gaza. Each innocent life lost is a tragedy. We share the pain of families and the faithful.”

“We are grateful to Pope León for his words of Consuelo. Israel is investigating the incident and remains committed to protecting civilians and sacred sites,” the prime minister’s account continued.

Israel’s defense forces said they regretted the attack and maintained after the investigation that the attack was accidental, describing it as a “ammunition deviation.”

On July 18, the Latin Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited the parish of the Sagrada Familia with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch Teófilo III to offer support after the attack.

Editor’s note: This note was updated on August 22 with the denial of Fr. Gabriel Romanelli, to reflect the priest’s public statement.