Gaza Herald – Father Gabriel Romanelli, the only Catholic pastor in Gaza, reported that the ongoing closure of border crossings had left civilians “at the limit of their strength” and deepened the humanitarian crisis across the territory. He said the restrictions blocked critical aid and prevented patients needing medical treatment outside Gaza from leaving.
Romanelli described the situation in Gaza City as “tragic, terrible,” with displaced populations facing extreme shortages of food, water, and basic services. While some assistance trickled in, he noted it was far from sufficient to meet the needs of the population.
The pastor explained that prices for essential goods such as fruit, meat, and dairy remained prohibitively high, compounded by widespread loss of income as many families had lost homes, jobs, and salaries. Electricity and water services were irregular, with generators and limited solar panels insufficient to meet demand and damaged water infrastructure, leaving many residents waiting hours for small amounts of potable water.
Romanelli emphasized that the impact of aid restrictions affected the entire population, including Gaza’s small Christian community. He cited concerns from relief groups like World Central Kitchen about imminent shortages in food and water distribution if operational suspensions continued.
Despite the hardships, he said people retained hope rooted in faith, but warned that the situation could not continue indefinitely. Romanelli called on the international community to guarantee consistent humanitarian access, stressing that restoring both material support and the “moral and existential” fabric of daily life was essential for justice, peace, and survival in Gaza.
