Ruptly
"Christians in Gaza gathered on Saturday at the Holy Family Latin Parish to mark Easter, bringing a rare moment of celebration to a city long overshadowed by conflict. Footage shows catholics lighting the Paschal flame and candles, and joining in prayers during Mass. “For nearly two years, our holiday celebrations were disrupted by the war,” said worshipper Fouad Ayad. “Given the grim conditions that have shadowed the church, it is a blessing that this Easter we could feel some joy, even if only in a limited way.” Father Gabriel Romanelli, parish priest of the Latin Church in Gaza, reflected on the wider significance of the holiday: "Unfortunately, the war continues. Even the ceasefire is on, the danger and the dead continues. So, we pray to the Lord to give peace and justice to all the people, especially those responsible for the war. To stop this war, and to give all the peoples in the Holy Land, the Middle East, and all the world to live with peace, justice and charity." Gaza’s Christian population numbers just over 1,000 within a city of around two million, predominantly Greek Orthodox, with smaller Latin Catholic and other Christian communities. Easter is celebrated on different dates by Orthodox and Catholic Christians, following the Julian and Gregorian calendars respectively. In late January, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced Phase II of a 20-point Gaza peace plan, aimed at moving from ceasefire to full disarmament, establishing a technocratic administration, and facilitating reconstruction."
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