From the Holy Family Church in northern Gaza City, Father Gabriel Romanelli keeps a tragic tally. Having returned to the Palestinian territory on May 16, after being stranded for seven months in East Jerusalem, the parish priest counts the number of Christians who have left the enclave (around 200), those who have fled southwards (another 200 or so) and finally, all those who have succumbed to the Israeli offensive.

"Another woman died today," pointed out the Argentinian cleric in a voice note, transmitted via WhatsApp messenger – because Israel forbids the international press from entering Gaza. Elderly and ill, the parishioner died due to lack of medicine, a consequence of the blockade imposed by the Israeli army. Her death brings the number of deaths in the Christian community to 41, out of 1,017 faithful before the start of the war on October 7, 2023.

Among these victims, 17 perished in the Israeli strike on the Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius on October 19, 2023. In the following months, Israeli army snipers shot dead three women, including 84-year-old music teacher Elham Farah on November 13, and then Nahida Khalil Anton and her daughter Samar Kamal Anton, killed inside the Holy Family complex on December 16, 2023. The 21 other people on this tragic list have all died in recent weeks from lack of food, drinking water and adequate medical care.

More recently, because of this murderous combination, Haytham, a young married man whose parish priest prefers not to give his surname, died of peritonitis in a refugee camp in Khan Yunis (South), where he could not be operated on in time. Like him, Hani had gone south to continue his dialysis after the bombing of the Gaza City hospital where he was usually treated. Stuck near Rafah, the family man was unable to continue his treatment. "He called me to help him get back to the north, so he could see his wife and children again," said Romanelli. "But it was impossible to get authorization..." Hani died alone in February. He was buried in the south of the Gaza Strip, without any relatives.

Inside the Holy Family complex, which provides shelter for the 500 Christians still remaining in Gaza, people have found ways to survive. Families who can afford it buy a little food from the corner market, like 19-year-old Suhail Abu Dawod, who has taken refuge in the church with a brother, sister, grandfather and his parents, both schoolteachers. According to the young man, also contacted by WhatsApp, in this market, which adjoins the clergy property, traders sell canned goods and a few containers of drinking water that are "four times more expensive than in normal times." After nine months of war, these products, sold at a high price, enable people to cook a little rice with beans.

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