“Leaving Gaza City and trying to escape south would be equivalent to a death sentence. For this reason, the priests and the nuns have decided to stay and continue taking care of all those who will find themselves in the two complexes”. The Greek Orthodox patriarchy and the Latin one of Jerusalem, represented by the Patriarch Theophilus III and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, write it in a joint note dated 26 August.
In this way the patriarchies respond to the decision of the Israeli government “to take full control of the city of Gaza”. “At the time of this declaration”, reads the text, “evacuation orders have already been issued for several neighborhoods of the city of Gaza. There are no news of heavy bombings. There are further destruction and deaths in an already dramatic situation before the start of the operation. It seems that the announcement of the Israeli government according to which” the doors of hell will open “is actually assuming tragic outlines. The experience of the past campaigns in Gaza. The intentions declared by the Israeli government regarding the current operation and the news that comes from the ground show that the operation is not only a threat, but a reality that is already under implementation “.
The two patriarchs point out that “from the outbreak of the war, the Greek-Orthodox complex of San Porfirio and the Latin one of the Holy Family have been a refuge for hundreds of civilians. Among them there are elderly people, women and children. Overall we have been hosting people with disabilities for many years, assisted by the missionary sisters of Charity. Like the other inhabitants of the city of Gaza, even the refugees who live in the structure will have to decide according to the structure. What to do.
From here, the decision to stay.
“We do not know exactly”, continues the text, “what will happen on the spot, not only for our community, but for the entire population. We can only repeat what we have already said: there can be no future based on captivity, the displacement of the Palestinians or revenge. We echo the words pronounced a few days ago by Pope Leone XIV: «All peoples, even the smallest and most weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and their rights, in particular the right to live in their lands; And nobody can force them to a forced exile “(speech to the group of refugees of the Chagos, 23.8,2025).
Pizzaballa and Teofilo add that “there is no reason that justifies the deliberated and forced displacement of civilians. It is time to end this spiral of violence, to end the war and to give priority to the common good of people. There was quite devastation, in the territories and life of people. There is no reason that justifies to keep civil prisoners or hostages in dramatic conditions. It is time for the families of all parties to be involved, who have suffered for a long time, can start healing paths “.
The joint declaration closes with an appeal to the international community “In order for it to act to end this senseless and destructive war, and in order for the disappeared people and the Israeli hostages to return home” and with the prayer “so that all our hearts convert, to walk on the paths of justice and life, for Gaza and throughout the Holy Land”.
