Inside tragic bombing of Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza

A survivor of a bombing on one of the world’s oldest churches in Gaza has shared his story of survival, as his nephew in Sydney told of the desperation of his relatives trapped in the besieged city. Watch video.

When the bombs started dropping on Gaza, the family of Sydney man Jabra Tarazi fled to the one place they believed would be safe – their historic church.

But they couldn’t have been more wrong.

Despite their Patriarchy (the head of the Church) sending a message to the Israeli Defence Forces that the Christian community were sheltering at the Church of Saint Porphyrius – one of the oldest in the world – they were still bombed.

Eighteen community members were killed and dozens more injured.

“I was one of the survivors who was trapped under the building for hours waiting for help and who saw his brother die in front of his eyes, unable to do anything,” said Jabra’s uncle George.

The Church of Saint Porphyrius – one of the oldest in the world – was bombed. Picture: Members of the congregation of Saint Porphyrius

Jabra’s family include the Tarazi and Qubti clans – both prominent in Gaza.

They are members of the oldest Christian community on Earth who have lived there since the first century.

The church, which has served as a religious refuge for centuries, was built in 425AD.

More than 40 of his relatives and friends are among the hundreds trapped in the now damaged church buildings, pleading for help.

There are also about 10 nuns, a priest, babies just a few months old, the aged, infirmed, and community members suffering from dementia and disabilities, as well as women who are heavily pregnant and about to give birth.

Hundreds of members of the oldest Christian community in the world are trapped and hiding in a war-damaged church in North Gaza pleading for help. Picture: The Qubti Family

Communicating using patchy internet access, they have revealed how they didn’t feel safe to evacuate south, especially with community members who were not fit enough to make the five to seven-kilometre journey on foot.

Jabra said they have told him there is no fuel for cars. And very little fuel left even for cooking.

They are surviving eating beans, cans of tuna, and rarely bread.

There is little water now and disease is threatening to take hold.

“We have few bathrooms, every 60 people use one bathroom …” his uncle said.

Jabra Tarazi, who was born in Gaza and has many family members and friends stuck there, is in Sydney. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

In response to questions about what is going on around them, the family wrote that they are “hearing the fighting all the time”.

“It is very close to us, especially at night; it hindered us from sleeping and is scaring the children. Every night when we go to sleep we pray to wake up with no harm,” they said.

“We want the world to know what is going on.

“We have no plan and no-one knows what to do if the fighting reaches us.”

Jabra, who grew up in Gaza’s Christian Al-Rimal neighbourhood, left in 2007 to find a better economic future.

Among those trapped are 10 nuns, a priest and about 40 members of the Qubti family who fled there when their homes were bombed, thinking it would be the one place they would be safe. Picture: The Qubti Family

Many of his friends and family have also left, and the number of Christians in Gaza and across Palestine, the birthplace of Jesus, has been constantly dwindling.

In the fourth century, Gaza – which was located on a major trade route with a busy port – became a major Christian mission hub.

Jabra Tarazi as a child (2nd from left at back) in Gaza with extended family members. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

United Nations figures from 1946 said there were 145,000 Christians in the country, representing 12 per cent of the total Palestinian Arab population. About 47,000 still live in the Occupied West Bank.

But the number in Gaza has been falling fast, from 3000 registered in 2007 to now around 1000.

Jabra Tarazi as a child (middle on his uncle’s lap) in Gaza with extended family members. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Before the war, the Christian communities also felt the restrictions of the Israel/Egypt blockade on Gaza. They were unable to leave the walled-off enclave, described as the world’s biggest open-air prison.

Despite their Patriarchy sending a message to the IDF they had sought refuge there, it didn’t stop an attack on the Church of Saint Porphyrius. Picture: Members of the congregation of Saint Porphyrius.

Every year, they have to apply to the Israeli authorities for a limited number of permits to be able to travel to Bethlehem or Jerusalem to celebrate Christmas or Easter.

The families stuck in the church said they “expect” a safe place to live and raise their children with dignity and respect.

“We want the world to know the crimes that Israel is doing to the Palestinian people either attacking civilians or using prohibited weapons against us …

“We ask the world to intervene and stop the fight now.”

Originally published as Inside tragic bombing of Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza