The Christians of Ciudad de Gaza challenge the evacuation order of Israel

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Christians in Gaza Defy Evacuation Orders: A Stand Against Oppression!

In an incredible show of **defiance**, “The clergy and the nuns have decided to stay and continue taking care of all those who are in the complexes,” declared leaders from the Patriarchy Greco Orthodox and Latin. This bold stance emerges as the Israeli Army issues its first evacuation orders within the *war-torn streets of Gaza*. The historic Christian communities are **refusing** to abandon their posts, standing firm as their complexes transform into sanctuaries for hundreds of the most vulnerable, including the *sick and elderly.*

The Unyielding Churches: A Challenge to Tyranny

The churches, including the Orthodox of San Porfirio and Anglicans of San Felipe, are outright challenging the evacuation orders issued by the military. While their premises appear on the initial “red zones” map, the *Catholic complex of the Sagrada Familia,* much beloved by the late Pope Francis, is currently safe but not for long! The fate of these holy sites hangs in the balance as they stand to be targets of the Israeli onslaught.

“The evacuation of Ciudad de Gaza is inevitable,” warned Avichay Adraee, the spokesperson for the **Israeli army**.

Echoing this, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an agency **backed** by Israel and the United States, has launched new help distribution centers. However, it’s critical to highlight that these locations have been branded as “mortal traps” by the United Nations, where tragic civilian deaths are a stark reality under military oversight.

Israel’s Relentless Campaign: A Fight for Survival

The ominous shadows of famine and suffering do not deter the aggressive **invasion plans** aimed at “the capital of Hamas,” as described by Benjamin Netanyahu. Evidently, the army has escalated its operations, delivering evacuation orders across various neighborhoods in Gaza. The courageous religious leaders of the Greek Orthodox and the Sagrada Familia complex express, “Attempting to leave Gaza City is akin to signing a death warrant.” The stakes have never been higher!

Despite the risk, the churches continue to offer refuge. Yet, tragically, the presence of these sacred spaces hasn’t shielded them from **Israel’s attacks**. Just last July, three lives were lost when a missile directly struck the Sagrada Familia complex, a dire reminder of the harsh reality faced daily by civilians.

The Plight of Gaza’s Christians: A Historic Presence at Risk

Pressure from within and outside the separation fence has pushed many Christians to flee Gaza, dwindling their population from 3,500 in 2006 to just over **1,000** today. This crisis predominantly affects Greek Orthodox members, alongside Catholics and some Protestants surrounding the Hospital to Ahli, established by *Baptist missionaries* over a century ago. This is Holy Land, where the Sacred Family traveled on their way to Egypt, and the desperate need for a **defiant existence** here has never been clearer!