Gaza's remaining Christians mark Christmas with subdued celebrations

The small number of Christians remaining in Gaza have marked Christmas early with subdued celebrations in the shadow of ongoing conflict and occupation.

The Catholic Church said only around 600 Christians remain in Gaza after the two-year war between Israel and Hamas from a total of 1,700 before the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.

Many spent most of the war living in the Holy Family Church compound because their homes were destroyed by Israeli forces. Around 400 still live there now.

"We lived a very difficult life in the church," said 67-year-old Alaa Saba, who was forced to leave her house in the upper-middle class Rimal neighbourhood during the war.

"The surrounding area was extremely dangerous, Shuja'iyya [neighbourhood], with constant strikes and shelling.

"Life was not easy, and the church itself was also shelled."

The church compound was hit by Israeli fire twice, killing five people.

Israel's military said one of the strikes was accidental and another was targeting a nearby Hamas compound.

Despite the ceasefire, many Gazans cannot return to their homes because Israeli troops occupy more than half of Gaza and do not allow the residents back.

Others' homes have been destroyed.

"It was hard and sad. People were dying and houses were being destroyed. Our house was destroyed in the first week of the war," said 11-year-old Julia Anton.

"We used to go and see it and tried to fix a few things, but it is not fit for living in."

While the world considers the war to be over, Gazans said this Christmas will be overshadowed by conflict.

"It is a difficult situation. We are emerging from a crisis, from a genocidal war, and God willing this trend [of peace] will continue," said worshipper Issa al-Tarazi.

"Yet there is still a threat to the future. We have not finished, the sounds of gunfire and shells are still heard daily.

"That our suffering, oppressed, displaced, and devastated Palestinian people may live in peace, obtain peace, and receive the most basic human and humanitarian rights."

Bethlehem out of reach

Before the war many of Gaza's Christians would make an annual trip to churches in Bethlehem and Jerusalem for Christmas, but Gaza's borders are now largely closed unless people want to leave permanently.

"It is a big difference. We used to go to Bethlehem, to the Church of the Nativity and Jerusalem, spending a week or two praying and feeling joy and happiness," Alaa Saba said.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and leader of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, presided over the Christmas services in Gaza in his first visit since the ceasefire went into effect in October.

He noted some improvements in living conditions but said many things remained difficult and the full extent of the destruction in Gaza was more apparent.

"Compared to the last time I've been here, six months ago approximately, [the situation] is much better from an everyday life point of view — there is not the war," he said.

"But the situation remains problematic from other aspects — houses, hospitals, schools [destroyed], everyday life. People live in tents.

"So the situation remains very, very problematic. 

"But they feel also, in a way, a desire of new beginning and this is also something positive and very hopeful."

Many of Gaza's Christians, like most of its residents, are considering leaving the enclave for good.

"People leave so their children can study, live a better life, and go to universities, because there is no longer life here," Alaa Saba said.

"Before the war, we were very happy here. We felt something very meaningful.