In the heart of Gaza, St. Porphyrius Church welcomes displaced

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
15 Oct 2023 15:15
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The St. Porphyrius Church, a Greek Orthodox Christian church in Gaza City, opens its doors to welcome the displaced following the Israeli aggression that targeted residential buildings, ambulance crew, and hospitals.

Palestinian people in Gaza taking refuge in the Saint Porphyrius church in Gaza City, the historical Greek Orthodox Church, Occupied Palestine on October 13, 2023. (Social Media)

The Saint Porphyrius church in Gaza City, the historical Greek Orthodox Church, has opened its doors wide since the beginning of the genocidal Israeli campaign against the Gaza Strip, welcoming displaced Palestinians who had lost their homes and loved ones.

Early during the war, there was a rumor that the Israeli Occupation Forces had targeted the 1,600-year-old church, but the news was soon falsified after the church posted on its official page that the Church and its occupants, Christian churchgoers, and priests were all safe and the church is untouched.

However, the Saint Porphyrius Church has not been the only church that has welcomed Palestinians seeking refuge from "Israel's" relentless airstrikes, the Roman Catholic Holy Family Church and the Protestant Gaza Baptist Church have also welcomed many displaced Gazans.

GAZA

Catholics pray for peace inside Holy Family Church pic.twitter.com/oup6KKzMPq
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) October 14, 2023

They have been seeking refuge inside the church, church hall, and school of the church as their homes and residences have been completely destroyed. As Gaza lost access to electricity, the only source of heating and light were candles.

كنيسة غزة مفتوحة على مصراعيها منذ اليوم الاول للعدوان من اجل ايواء اهلنا المتضررين هناك
لقد فُتحت ابواب كنيسة القديس بورفيرويوس الارثوذكسية التاريخية في غزة على مصراعيها منذ اليوم الاول للعدوان من اجل ايواء المتضررين والمشردين والمنكوبين الذين دمرت منازلهم .

الجميع حال واحد🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/9VB0jYtLHp
— ּاڸــ؏ــﯧْــاڜ‏ 𓂆🇵🇸 (@FXe101) October 14, 2023

With that statement, the church also addressed the Christians and people of Gaza, highlighting that Bishop Alexios and Father Silas have chosen to remain with the faithful people of Gaza and not travel outside the country.

المسبحة الوردية اليومية من أجل السلام والحماية في كنيسة العائلة المقدسة دير اللاتين غزة. يمكن هدول داعش قصدي حيوانات بشرية بنظر الكتير. pic.twitter.com/9le1yxEm4l
— EK 🇵🇸🇱🇧 (@akh1e) October 12, 2023

Yesterday, October 14, the Israeli Occupation Forces targeted the al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital, also located in Gaza City, belonging to the Episcopal Diocese of al-Quds, according to Palestinian Anglican bishop Hosam Elias Naoum who said in a Facebook post that the strike resulted in partial damage to two floors and caused injuries to four individuals. The Ultrasound and Mammography rooms suffered significant damage.

As per Archbishop Hosam Naoum, an Israeli airstrike targeted the #Arab Ahli Hospital in #Gaza this evening. The strike resulted in partial damage to two floors and caused injuries to four individuals. The Ultrasound and Mammography rooms suffered significant damage.… pic.twitter.com/9WknXXPGHM
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 14, 2023

Earlier today, it was also reported that the IOF targeted the al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital again, but with two missiles this time.

In similar vain, Patriarch John X Yazigi, the primate of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All The East, said in a speech at Lebanon's Balamand University that "What is happening in the Gaza Strip is the result of long years of oppression and injustice and the world must give this people their right," reaffirming that "peace does not come on the corpses of children and innocents, but rather comes when the tyrants of this world realize that our people, in these countries, have dignity similar to that which belongs to all peoples."

Moreover, the Patriarch discussed the international community's double standards and asked, "Where is the justice and human rights that they are talking about in international communities, while two bishops have been kidnapped for 11 years and we have not known anything about them yet?"

#PALESTINE

🇵🇸صلاة الغروب في كنيسة القديس بورفيريوس الأرثوذكسية في #غزة

🇵🇸Evening Prayer in Saint Porphyrios Orthodox church in #Gaza
14 - 10 - 2023 #ChristiansMENA pic.twitter.com/oEx0ggJqdb
— Christians MENA (@ChristiansMENA) October 14, 2023

Remaining fuel only to supply hospitals for a few hours: Chief of Nurses

Chief of Nurses and Nursing Supervisor of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the Gaza Strip, Khalil al-Dakran, warned of the complete collapse of the health sector across the Strip as "Israel" continues its genocidal bombing of residential buildings, medical crews, and infrastructure in Gaza.

In statements to Al Mayadeen, al-Dakran said that "the quantities of fuel available in Gaza hospitals are sufficient for limited hours," warning that hospitals will be out of service due to fuel shortage, indicating a health disaster in the Strip.

Regional director for the Near and #MiddleEast for the #ICRC, Fabrizio Carboni, highlights the dire situation in #Gaza as #Gazans are being deprived the most basic needs: food, water, and electricity.@FCarboniICRC #Palestine #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/AJoPvWs18l
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 13, 2023

The heavy bombardment of Gaza by the Israeli Occupation Forces resulted in injuries and martyrs greater than what hospitals in Gaza could accommodate.

As such, al-Dakaran called on the international community to pressure the occupation to open humanitarian corridors to transport critical situations and receive aid.

In addition, the chief of nurses underscored that the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip had led to the killing of around 15 martyrs and the injury of more than 40 ambulance crews due to Israeli targeting of medical staff.