AMU continues to support the tireless assistance work of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, from which we received the following update, in a context that is becoming increasingly dramatic.
Gaza City: amid bombings and displacement, aid continues
The Catholic Parish of the Holy Family in Gaza City continues to provide shelter and assistance to hundreds of displaced people, including elderly, sick, families with children, people with disabilities.
Despite the dire situation caused by incessant Israeli bombing, the parish priests have chosen to stay, sharing what little they have with those who no longer have a safe place to live.
Those who have left risk their lives at every step: they have to face the scarcity – if not the complete absence – of water, food, tents, medicines and electricity, all accompanied by the constant fear of bombings, demolitions and further displacements , which are now part of daily life in Gaza.
The situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem
At the same time, the West Bank and East Jerusalem are facing a different kind of emergency. Their populations are suffering from increasing restrictions, checkpoints, and isolation that are eroding their livelihoods and hope. On September 19, in the West Bank alone, the Israeli army erected over 1,200 gates, barriers, and military posts aimed at isolating Palestinian cities from one another .
For many Christian families, especially those dependent on tourism and services related to pilgrims and visitors—estimated at over 60% of Christian households—unemployment has become chronic. These aren’t just abstract numbers: they are fathers and mothers unable to pay school fees, medical care, or secure a stable home.
In this difficult scenario, the Latin Patriarchate has chosen to be there and to expand its services where the needs are most urgent, managing to protect lives and restore hope. The interventions are concrete and immediate and allow people to survive and families to maintain the dignity of a future.
(Photo: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)