Gaza City – For the first time in two years, Christians in Gaza gathered for Christmas Eve prayers at the Holy Family Church, marking a subdued return to a long-standing community tradition interrupted by the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The Catholic parish — the only one in Gaza — illuminated its Christmas tree and opened its doors to worshippers, many of whom have remained displaced since violence escalated two years ago. While celebrations were limited to prayer services and small family gatherings, the lighting of the tree and the ringing of church bells brought a brief sense of continuity to a community facing prolonged instability.
According to church officials, approximately 550 people currently shelter at the church, many of them displaced during earlier stages of the conflict.
Displacement and personal loss
Among those attending the Christmas service was 58-year-old Dmitri Boulos (above), who has lived at the church with his family since they fled their home in the early phase of the war.
“We came here seeking safety, but we have faced uncertainty throughout,” Boulos said, recalling incidents where surrounding areas of the church were struck during Israeli military operations. “We hope the next year brings stability and an end to restrictions that make daily life difficult.”
The presence of displaced families inside Gaza’s churches has become common since 2023, when increased hostilities across the territory damaged large parts of residential neighbourhoods.
According to United Nations figures, more than 80 percent of buildings in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, resulting in widespread displacement and severe pressure on shelter infrastructure.
The scale of loss has left many residents without the emotional capacity to fully observe religious holidays.
Nowzand Terzi, 63, whose family also sought refuge at the Holy Family Church, said she struggled to participate in this year’s celebration.
“I lost my home and then my daughter, who became ill during the conflict,” she said. “I cannot celebrate, but I hope peace and safety return for everyone.”
Churches under strain
Christian places of worship in Gaza have played a significant role as informal shelters in recent years. While the Holy Family Church has remained a refuge for many, other churches — including the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius and the Anglican St Philip’s Church — were damaged during the conflict, according to local reports and international monitoring groups.
The repeated displacement has reshaped Gaza’s Christian community, historically small but deeply rooted.
Before the conflict intensified in 2023, around 1,000 Christians lived in Gaza; community leaders now estimate only a few hundred remain.
Youth hopes for education and reconstruction
The disruption has affected not only housing but also education.
Eighteen-year-old Edward Sabah said he has not completed his high school studies after being displaced with his family. He survived an explosion at Saint Porphyrius Church in October 2023 that killed several people sheltering there.
“We decorated the church this year, even though many of us are still afraid of what could happen next,” he said. “I want to continue my studies once conditions allow.”
Terzi, Boulos, Sabah and others expressed similar aspirations — a return to daily routines, the reopening of schools, and the rehabilitation of damaged neighbourhoods.
A celebration shaped by endurance
For some, marking the holiday — even modestly — represented an act of perseverance.
Janet Massadm, 32 (above), attended the Christmas service with her parents and siblings after two years of displacement.
“We are exhausted, but we try to create moments of joy,” she said. “I hope the situation improves so we can all return to our lives.”
Despite limited access to basic services, shortages of food and medicine, and continued military activity in several areas, many Christian families said attending the service offered a brief sense of normalcy.
Looking ahead
Humanitarian agencies report that nearly two million people in Gaza continue to face displacement, restricted mobility, and reduced access to essential supplies, conditions that complicate long-term recovery efforts.
Local authorities estimate over 288,000 families lack adequate shelter.
Yet the atmosphere inside the Holy Family Church during Christmas Eve prayers showed a determination shared by many residents: to maintain cultural and religious practices despite hardship.
As worshippers left the church courtyard late on Christmas Eve, the message repeated among attendees was consistent — a desire for reunification with loved ones, reconstruction of communities, and a future shaped by stability rather than uncertainty.
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