DaysofPal- Christians in the Gaza Strip marked Palm Sunday on Sunday for the first time since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, following two years in which celebrations were largely absent due to ongoing violence.
Dozens of worshippers gathered at the Holy Family Church, affiliated with the Latin Patriarchate, in the Old City of Gaza City. The service was led by parish priest Gabriel Romanelli, according to local reports.
Palm Sunday marks the seventh and final Sunday of Lent before Good Friday, followed by Easter Sunday. In Christian tradition, it commemorates the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, where he was welcomed by crowds carrying palm branches in a sign of joy and reverence.
During the two years of genocide, public celebrations were severely limited. Observances were confined to modest church decorations and small-scale rituals due to repeated attacks and security concerns. This year’s gathering carried both a spiritual and symbolic weight for the small Christian community in Gaza.
Worshippers, including families and children, arrived at the church while bells rang despite rainy weather. Participants sang hymns, offered prayers, and lit candles. Young attendees carried palm branches and walked through the church grounds, recreating the traditional Palm Sunday procession.
In his remarks, Father Romanelli said the beginning of Holy Week is a moment to reflect on Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. He offered prayers for the people of Gaza, both Christians and Muslims, expressing hope for a life marked by peace, dignity, and justice.
He also voiced regret over the absence of celebrations in Jerusalem this year due to ongoing tensions, adding that prayers continue for the city, for Palestine, and for the wider region. He called for peace and justice for all people.
Barriers to Worship in Jerusalem
Israeli occupation forces have kept major religious sites in Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Al-Aqsa Mosque, closed since late February, citing security concerns linked to regional tensions. Palestinian officials and residents have criticized the closures, describing them as unjustified and politically motivated.
Earlier on Sunday, Israelis prevented Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Franciscan Custos Francesco Patton from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday prayers.
Reflecting on the toll of the war, Romanelli said a significant portion of Gaza’s Christian community has been lost, estimating that about six percent of Latin Christians have died. He described the loss as deeply painful, noting that it underscores the church’s place within Palestinian society.
He urged leaders in the region and beyond to allow Palestinians to live in their homeland with dignity so that normal life can return to Gaza. He described the ceasefire as an important step, though he pointed to continued suffering caused by shortages of food, water, medicine, and other essentials.
Edward Sabah, one of the participants, described Palm Sunday as one of the most important Christian holidays worldwide. He said this year’s celebration felt different following the reduction in large-scale fighting, expressing hope for lasting peace in Gaza. He added that despite occasional violence, maintaining the ceasefire remains crucial.
Before the genocide, Gaza’s Christian population was estimated at around 1,000 people out of 2.4 million residents. That number has since dropped to only a few hundred.
On October 8, 2023, Israel launched a war of genocide against Gaza, killing more than 72,000 Palestinians, most of them children and women, and destroying 90 percent of the infrastructure.
Despite the ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, Israel has committed hundreds of violations through shelling and gunfire, resulting in hundreds of casualties, both dead and wounded.
The Holy Family Church itself bears the scars of the war, having been targeted in July 2025 in an attack that injured several displaced civilians, including Father Romanelli himself.
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