Palestinian Christians in Gaza City Gather for Prayers Amid Israeli Bombardment

Gaza City, Palestine — Palestinian Christians gathered inside Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza’s Old City on April 13, 2025 to pray during Palm Sunday as Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza extends beyond 18 months. Gaza’s Christian community has come under threat as a low estimate of more than 61,700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and over 90% of the population forcibly displaced.

Around 600 of the 1,000 Christians in Gaza at the start of the war are still in the besieged enclave, according to Open Doors US, a non-denominational mission that tracks persecuted Christians around the world. Gazan Christians are taking refuge in churches, which have not been spared from being targeted with U.S.-manufactured weaponry fired by Israeli forces.

Around 260 Christians have been sheltering inside Saint Porphyrius Church, one of the world’s oldest churches. Named after Saint Porphyrius, whose tomb is in the church, the Greek Orthodox Church was built in the 5th century and is also one of the oldest Christian sites in Gaza.

Israel has bombed Saint Porphyrius multiple times over the last 18 months — on Oct. 19, 2023 at least 17 Christians were killed in an Israeli airstrike that was called a war crime by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

“We have lost many of our loved ones and relatives. During this war, there were direct bombings at this location, in this church. The direct bombings also targeted the Church of Saint Porphyrius, resulting in many martyrs and many patients passed away due to a lack of medicine and treatment, and because of the cruel and unjust siege imposed on Gaza.”
Mohammed Haddad, Displaced Christian Palestinian speaking from outside Holy Family Church

Unicorn Riot documented last year’s Palm Sunday prayers in Gaza from inside Holy Family Church, which is about a 10 minute drive from Saint Porphyrius. Four months ago, Unicorn Riot went back to Gaza City’s Holy Family Church during Christmas prayers. We heard from two displaced Christians who had their homes bombed by Israel.

“There will be no celebrations, no joy. Our hearts cannot cope with celebrations because our hearts are filled with deep sorrow for what is happening in Gaza,” said Mohammed Haddad on the steps of the Holy Family Church. “We no longer have homes to celebrate in, nor places to go,” Haddad said, “before the war, there were celebrations in Bethlehem, there were permits, and our Christian Palestinian brothers would visit the Church of Bethlehem and celebrate with the Christian Palestinians in the West Bank.”

Haddad said he’s among a group of displaced people from the Christian community staying in the church since the beginning of the war, “we are living here, laying on the ground in the classrooms and available spaces here, in this church, hoping that this war will end and that we can return to what remains of our homes. 80% of the people here have lost their homes, either through complete destruction, partial destruction, or significant damage.”

Speaking to Unicorn Riot from outside of Holy Family Church, Yasser Al-Zaza said his son emigrated to Australia and Israel has bombed two of his homes and a shop. “This prayer service is different. The destruction of homes, shops, and our children’s homes—it’s as if I was hit by a blow that destroyed everything I had. It’s as if the strike hit me right in the heart … My two homes near Palestine Mosque are gone, what I had created in Palestine is completely gone. All that we had is lost.”

“We hope to return to our normal lives and for our people to live in peace and safety. Let this mad and insane war come to an end, and let our people live in security and safety.”
Mohammed Haddad