Young Christians a lifeline to Gaza neighbours

In a media world that portrays the Israel-Palestine conflict as simple hostility between people of the Judaic and Muslim faiths, the Christian presence in Palestine is minimized or erased.

Yet Christians — though dwindling in numbers and caught in the same spiral of suffering and death that plagues all inhabitants of the Holy Land — continue to be of service to people of all faiths fighting for their survival amidst the carnage unleashed by the Israel-Hamas war.

Three young Christian men have shown remarkable leadership in obeying the call to “love thy neighbour,” reported Joseph Hazboun the Jerusalem-based regional director of the pontifical charity Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA).

“Our youth in Gaza are proving to be true leaders under crisis,” Hazboun told The Catholic Register.

“George Antone (Latin Parish) and Rami Tarazi (Orthodox Parish), one of our coordinators in Gaza, try to reach and provide for those in need,” he said.

“Although deeply concerned about the safety of their own families, they are true and heroic leaders working under life-threatening circumstances. Already, they worked together to secure enough water and food supplies that can last for seven-10 days. They’ve also mobilized and coordinated spaces for those that have been evacuated, organized meal distribution and other essential needs, especially for the sick and the elderly.”

On Oct. 19, Hazboun reported that in a telephone conversation with the two Tarazis (who are not related), who had taken charge of the Orthodox convent, the two young men had suggested a “good Samaritan” initiative. They planned to prepare and distribute food packages to their Muslim neighbours.

“We don’t want our neighbours to be starving or wanting,” Hazboun said. “I gave them the green light for this project, and they said they would suggest the same to George Antone at the Catholic parish.”

Adriana Bara, CNEWA’s Canadian director, keeps in close touch with Hazboun and the CNEWA office in East Jerusalem.

“I am sorry to report that we just learned that one of the buildings of the Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrios was hit today by a missile,” she wrote in an email dated Oct. 20 to The Catholic Register. “There are people under the rubble, no idea as yet of the casualties. 

“Maybe a building next to the church was bombed and the church building collapsed. Attempts are being made to rescue people from under the rubble.”

She added that Hazboun talked to Rami Tarazi, who was in tears looking for his parents under the wreckage.

“Later Joseph saw him on TV by chance — we hope that his parents are OK. Rami is in shock in trying hard to help as much as possible. George went from the Latin Church to the Orthodox to try to help,” Bara said.

Later that day, Rami Tarazi’s search for his parents ended in personal tragedy.

“The parents of Rami, our CNEWA employee in Gaza, tried to find refuge at the Orthodox church. We just learned that his parents died because of the missile that hit that church,” Bara said. “We are all in grief at CNEWA, and in prayer for Rami and his deceased parents.”

Hazboun expressed his appreciation of Rami Tarazi and the other youth leaders, and said they are the hope of the Christian community in a future when peace comes to the Holy Land.

Rami Tarazi is a young Palestinian Christian, a graduate of CNEWA’s leadership program, and manager of the Arab Orthodox Cultural and Social Centre in Gaza. But despite the death and destruction he sees all around him, as Israel seeks to destroy Hamas which launched a surprise attack on October 7, Tarazi pursues his works of mercy and goes fearlessly to the aid of people struggling for their survival on a day-to-day basis.

Hazboun said Rami Tarazi and Antone are young men of the same calibre, excellent leaders and work diligently for the good of the diverse people of the Holy Land.

“There are other young people worth investing in,” he added. “We hope that once the war is over, they will take a leading role in their community and continue to draw the path for the future of the dwindling Christian community in Gaza that runs 17 institutions serving roughly over quarter of a million people annually.

He added that since the beginning of the war, CNEWA has coordinated relief efforts at the Latin Parish, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Arab Orthodox Social and Cultural Center and that these young leaders played a crucial role in the success of these operations, drawing on their network of trusted contacts in the various communities.

He cautioned, however, that the needs are increasing and that funds are needed to continue the work.

“Financial support is immediately required to make sure we can sustain the current numbers under our care,” he said. “We project that some $150,000 is needed. Local community contributions as well as local partners active in Gaza will provide some $50,000. We’re requesting $100,000 as immediate emergency need.”