“The clergy and nuns have decided to remain and continue to care for all those in the compounds,” they said.
“Leaving Gaza and attempting to flee south would be a death sentence,” the two added, reiterating that “there can be no future based on imprisonment, the displacement of Palestinians or revenge”.
“There is no reason to justify the deliberate and forced mass displacement of civilians.”
“Since the outbreak of the war,” Pizzaballa and Theophilus III stated, “the Greek Orthodox compound of San Porfirio and the Holy Family compound have provided shelter to hundreds of civilians.
“Among them are elderly people, women and children. For many years, we have hosted people with disabilities in the Latin compound, entrusted to the care of the Missionary Sisters of Charity.
“Like other residents of Gaza City, the refugees living in the facilities will have to make a conscientious decision about what to do. Among those who have sought refuge within the compound walls, many are weakened and malnourished due to the hardships of recent months.”
For this reason, they explained, the clergy and nuns have decided to stay. “We do not know exactly what will happen on the ground,” they added, “not only for our community, but for the entire population.
“We embrace what Pope Leo XIV stated a few days ago: ‘All peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and rights, especially the right to live in their own land; and no one can force them into exile.’ This is not the right path.
“There is no reason to justify the deliberate and forced mass displacement of civilians. It is time to put an end to this spiral of violence, to end the war and to prioritise the common good of the people.”
“With equal urgency,” the patriarchs concluded, “we call on the international community to act to end this senseless and destructive war and for the return of missing persons and Israeli hostages.”
ANSA
