Do Gaza Christians face extinction?

A Gazan Christian fears he may be one of the last Christians ever to have lived in the territory.

Embrace the Middle East is a Christian development agency that works to tackle poverty and injustice across the region. It currently works with Christians in Egypt, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, Lebanon and Syria, supporting various health, education and community projects which bring vital services to those at risk of marginalisation and exclusion.

Embrace tells the story of former Gaza resident Ramy Tarazi, 31, who fears he will be one of the last Christians to have lived there.

Tarazi was formerly the manager of the Arab Orthodox Cultural and Social Centre, which provided a space for Christians and Muslims to participate in cultural activities together. He and his family then joined hundreds of Christians sheltering in St Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, which dated back to the 12the century, before it was attacked and badly damaged by the Israeli Defence Force in October 2023.

He said: ‘It was a huge trauma when our house was destroyed and my work disappeared. We lived together in the church like one big family, serving one to one. Every day I went out searching for food for everyone, as well as medicines, hygiene kits and nappies. We also set up a facility to provide hot meals for 20-30 families a day.’

But life later became impossible, as he and his son lived in a war zone without doctors or hospitals, so like many other Gazan Christians he fled abroad. Now he fears for the future of Christianity in Gaza, saying: ‘Gaza churches are now like museums, where Christians will visit as tourists do. So I ask Christians elsewhere to support all Palestinian people, and especially the Christians, before they all vanish. And I also want peace, the most important thing in the world.’