As the Israeli government launches a ground offensive in Gaza City, designating it a “combat zone” and announcing the end of the humanitarian pause, the Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Orthodox Patriarch, Theophilos III, along with priests, nuns, and church leaders in Gaza, have decided not to leave.

Cardinal Pizzaballa, echoing Pope Leo XIV’s remarks at Wednesday’s audience, stated that “The transfer of populations, as is being attempted in the Gaza Strip, is immoral and contrary to international conventions.”

The war front crosses the residential neighborhood of Zeitun, in the western part of the Old Town, where the Holy Family parish is located, which houses around 500 people, including around 50 with disabilities and serious illnesses.

In an interview with SIR, the Custos of the Holy Land, Friar Francesco Ielpo (OFM), emphasized that “Remaining in Gaza is the most powerful signal the Church could give at a time like this.” His presence, like that of other priests, friars, and religious sisters in contexts of threat and war, is worth more than any proclamation, because it is “a decision that is made even at the cost of one’s own life.”

For his part, the parish priest of the Sagrada Familia, Father Romanelli, stated in a video: “We don’t know what will happen. However, seeing our elderly, sick, and disabled people with Mother Teresa’s sisters, and the many people we care for, we feel a duty to continue serving Christ in them. For this reason, we have made the decision to remain here, to help those who are and will remain in this parish.”

The name of the parish—which suffered an Israeli raid a month ago, killing three people and sparking international protests—now appears on evacuation zone maps published by the Tel Aviv military, which has ordered the relocation of residents to the center of the enclave or to the dunes south of al-Mawasi.

As happened recently at the Greek Orthodox complex of San Porfirio, which houses more than 100 civilians, or at the Church of San Felipe, next to Al-Ahli, the only Christian hospital in the enclave. There, due to a total lack of resources, doctors are forced to choose each day who they can treat or less, as director Mahed Ayyad stated.

For his part, army spokesman Avichay Adraee proclaimed, “We will intensify our attacks until we recover all the captured reins and dismantle Hamas,” forgetting or pretending not to understand that the problem is deeper.

In this sense, Cardinal Pizzaballa’s words made an important clarification: “They want to destroy Hamas, but at most they can destroy the current leadership, not the ideology that underpins it.”

On the diplomatic front, Parolin confirmed that the Holy See maintains direct channels open with the United States through its embassy and through talks in Washington, in which Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar participated. “We await what the Pope has asked for: a ceasefire, safe humanitarian access, and respect for international humanitarian law. These are essential to avoid collective punishment.”