Gaza: Christians face an almost impossible choice

Written by David Fletcher 20 Nov 2025
Gaza: Christians face an almost impossible choice

Gaza’s small Christian community, long rooted in the land where their faith began, is now confronting an existential crossroads. As a fragile ceasefire wavers and destruction remains widespread, believers like Elias al-Jalda face the stark question of whether their community can survive. With homes destroyed and more than two years spent sheltering in churches - some of which were themselves struck, causing tragic loss of life - daily existence has become a struggle for food, water and safety. Yet amid the devastation, they have discovered a profound solidarity, forming close-knit bonds in shared suffering. Many are choosing to leave while they can, echoing a wider regional trend in which ancient Christian populations across the Middle East have dramatically dwindled. Still, Elias and others hold on to hope, believing that Christian presence should remain in the birthplace of their faith.

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