Christians returning to their homes in Gaza have insisted they will not leave their homeland, while believers in Lebanon face an uncertain future.
There are ongoing tensions and uncertainties about the fragile pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas. However, the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, in place since late November, seemed to be holding.
While hundreds are thought to have left Gaza and sought refuge elsewhere, Open Doors are reporting that about 600 of the 1,070 Christians who lived in the region before the conflict have stayed to rebuild.
An Open Doors source said: ‘About 75% of the houses of the Christians are damaged or totally destroyed. Those who still have their own houses will go back to them and will take their relatives with them. Some are scared that they may be attacked by people who have nothing.’
Not beyond repair
Embrace the Middle East, a charity which partners with Christians in the Middle East, has called for the ceasefire to be preserved, prioritising ‘the protection of civilians, the rebuilding of Gaza and the creation of a just peace that respects the voices of local communities.’
The charity’s partners on the ground say that the territory is not beyond repair despite the damage it has endured and the dire conditions its citizens have been left in. A leader involved in the Christian response told Embrace: ‘For us as Christians, we are not leaving Gaza for any reason, and we will remain in Gaza and will help people. We will help in rebuilding the houses and the streets.’
Christians in Lebanon also face an uncertain future. Three months after the beginning of the ceasefire between the IDF and Hezbollah, local Embrace partners are watching closely to see if the situation improves following the election of Joseph Aoun as its new President and Nawaf Salam as its Prime Minister Designate.
Many have described these appointments as signs of a fresh start for Lebanon, but the partners are more cautious, waiting to see if reforms are implemented to deal with sectarianism across the country’s political landscape.
Many people remain displaced following the conflict and some violence persists in the nation, with over 80 killed during the ceasefire period, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
The presence of a constant humming sound from surveillance drones in Beirut also reminds residents of the fragile nature of the situation in the region, and is a source of constant trauma for those who have been there since the fighting started last September.
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