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The Church of the Holy Family Stands amid the devastation of Gaza City. Photo: Raw Media/Trócaire
In the heart of the Old City of Gaza, The Church of the Holy Family provides shelter and respite for people of all ages caught up in war.
North Gaza has seen the most intense bombardment of Israel’s prolonged assault on Gaza. Separated from the South by a military line, the population was besieged and repeatedly starved throughout 2024.
In these desperate conditions, Trócaire’s partner Caritas Jerusalem, alongside the local church, maintains a vital shelter and medical facility in the old city, where communities of all faiths and backgrounds receive vital care and services.
Faeqa in school with other children who have been displaced. Photo: Raw Media/Trócaire.
“My name is Faeqa, I’m 12 years old, I have 9 days left until I turn 13. This will be the second time I celebrate my birthday during the war. And next year I hope to celebrate it somewhere else.”
Faeqa has an indominable spirit. Even as her family has been torn apart by the ongoing war in Gaza, she finds reasons to be hopeful. Like many families in Northern Gaza, her parents debated moving towards the South while it was still accessible, but her brother was weak and needed treatment, so they came to the Caritas Shelter.
‘We came to the Latin Church because there was electricity. When we arrived the Latin Church, we were not used to the routine and we did not understand what to do.’
As the War continued, North Gaza was besieged and the population was forced to remain in an area that was being bombed repeatedly. It was then that the shelter, run by Caritas, became an even more critical sanctuary.
‘Everyone thought that their house was going to collapse, and that their school was going to collapse, and that everything was going to collapse. So when Caritas came, it changed everything for us.
We became optimistic, we became to love their spirit, and whenever a caritas event comes, we all have to be together to enjoy it. They brought us games, we play together, we play hide and seek, we play games. They sometimes prepare movies for us.
Faeqa takes her bike out for spin in Northern Gaza, November 2024. Photo: George Jaraiseh/Trócaire.
For Faeqa, sport and games are an essential way to continue to enjoy life, but she knows that life is not the same as long as conflict continues.
I used to play basketball but I don’t play much now… I can’t play because of the situation. The first thing I’ll do after the war, as soon as I hear the words ‘the war is over’ I’ll be so happy then. We will return to our home and rebuild it again.
Faeqa stands outside the shelter in the Old City of Gaza. Photo: Raw media/Trócaire.
‘I will write about the situations that happened to me. I will try to write in Arabic and in other languages. I want to tell the world that this is the story of the war. I want to reach the world, so that this story makes the world understand a little bit about the cause of our country, what we suffer from in the war.
My goal for next year is that the war will be over. I want to go back to school with my books, everything I wish for. I want to be with my family, with everyone. I hope you encourage us to stay strong in this land. I hope you continue to spread the stories we write.
Faeqa is clearly wise beyond her years. Like so many children in Gaza, she has already seen things that no one should ever see, and that no child should ever experience. Sadly, for her parents’ generation, and those that came before, displacement as a result of conflict is not new. But even they say that this is the worst conflict they have ever experienced.
Najwa Helmeh Tarezi, stands in front of the Latin Church in Gaza City. Photo: Raw Media/Trócaire.
Najwa Tarezi was born in Gaza but moved to Libya to work in the diplomatic service. After 20 years there, she returned home. She had a family and says life was peaceful for a time in the 1990s before conflict intensified again.
‘The first and second Intifada came, and the situation was tense.’
But, she says, nothing compares to the ferocity of this current War.
‘Of course we suffered many wars but then we reached this war. The truth is that it was one of the most dangerous and cursed wars that happened in history not only in Gaza but in the whole world’
As the bombardment from the Israeli military around northern Gaza intensified, many people, including Najwa, fled to the Parfilus (St. Porphyrios ) Church compound, believing it would be safe. Then, in a notorious strike in October of last year, the Israeli military bombed the compound, including a building adjacent to the church.
‘I was one of the injured. My sister and my cousin died in the bombing.’
Najwa Helmeh Tarezi, stands in front of the Latin Church in Gaza City. Photo: Raw media/Trócaire.
After the bombing, Najwa was bed bound and in extreme pain. She underwent three operations and is now back walking, and has regained some of the weight she lost. Even after everything she has been through, she still has hope and prays every day for peace.
I am not young anymore, I thank God that I have reached this stage. I wish for a new year. First of all, peace. Peace not only in Gaza, but in the whole world. Healing for all the wounded and the sick.
Najwa at her bedside reflecting. Photo: Raw media/Trócaire
Gaza will suffer for a long time. We hope, God, that life will be normal like the rest of the world and we will live in peace and love. We want love to spread among people. I want the world to know that there are Palestinian people who have been oppressed for a long time.
We hope, God, that life will be normal like the rest of the world and we will live in peace and love.
