Catholic Aid Groups Face Daunting Challenge in Gaza

When an Israeli airstrike hit the Greek Orthodox church compound in Gaza City on Oct. 19, it was the dinner hour. Hundreds of mostly Christian Palestinians who had relocated to the grounds of St. Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, as the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated, were receiving their evening meal. Sami Tarazi, the project coordinator for the Pontifical Mission-Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), in Jerusalem, which assists with church-building, repairs, pastoral outreach and leadership formation, was among the throng of displaced Palestinians when the Israeli missile hit a building in the church compound.