The parish priest of Gaza Strip’s small Christian community admitted his flock is exhausted by war and a severe lack of food. The priest spoke to Vatican Radio amid tragedy after tragedy unfolding in the enclave, with at least 32 people killed by Israeli strikes only on July 13, including six children at a water collection point.
The Israeli military said it was targeting a militant but a technical error made its munitions fall “dozens of meters from the target,” The Associated Press reported.
While small children and teenagers leaned over body bags in tears to say goodbye to their friends and relatives, a Palestinian surgeon was also killed in the strikes. Ahmed Qandil, who specialized in general surgery, had been on his way to Al-Ahli Arab Baptist Hospital when he was killed, Gaza’s Health Ministry spokesman confirmed to AP.
Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of the Holy Family Parish, asked not to be forgotten and for continued prayers, which he called an unending source of hope.
He told Vatican Radio that basic goods reached unimaginable prices and that they’re almost impossible to find due to blockade of humanitarian aid.
He said flour reached the price of $11 per pound, tomatoes are $13 per pound and a single onion costs between $14 and $17.
A pound of sugar is $50, he said.
“But coffee, bitter or not, is out of reach entirely: it goes for no less than 250 Euros per kilo,” or almost $300 for 2 pounds.
“Let me be clear, these prices are almost theoretical,” he said. “Before we talk about paying for anything, we need to find it. And that is nearly impossible. When available, we rely on small makeshift wartime gardens, tended by impromptu farmers. But these are becoming increasingly rare, as most of the population has fled toward the south of Gaza.”
Read more: https://www.osvnews.com/gazas-christian-community-persevering-amid-hardship-and-hope/
By OSV News
