**Church Leaders Return from Gaza with “Broken Heart”**
Church officials in Jerusalem have returned from a rare trip to Gaza, describing what they saw as a “broken heart”. The leaders spoke of starving people and children who did not flinch when bombings were heard. They also shared their experiences of visiting the Holy Family Church in Taybeh, which was recently attacked by Israeli settlers.
**Describing the Suffering**
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa told journalists that the people they met in Gaza were standing for hours in the sun, hoping to get a simple meal. He described this as a “humiliation” that was unbearable to see with their own eyes. The cardinal also noted that around 400 people were taking shelter in a compound in Gaza City, which is now under Israeli evacuation orders.
**Christian Community Suffers Alongside Palestinians**
Pizzaballa emphasized that Christians suffer in the same way as other Palestinians in Gaza. He mentioned that three people had died in their community, while thousands have already perished in the conflict. The cardinal also described recent settler violence in Taybeh as part of a “broader phenomenon” occurring in the West Bank.
**Tensions in the Holy Land**
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, also visited Taybeh on Saturday and denounced the attack on the church as an act of terror. He demanded harsh consequences for those responsible. However, this move has been seen by some as unusual, given Huckabee’s past support for Jewish settlements.
**Concerns Over Christian Community in Gaza**
Theophilos III, a leader at the Jerusalem press conference, expressed concerns over the small Christian community in Gaza. He emphasized that they must be supported to remain near their holy places and to preserve their history. Pizzaballa also stated that the Catholic presence in Gaza would continue “whatever happens”.
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