The consequences for the small Christian community in Gaza of the current war in the Holy Land, have been terrible, according to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

A project partner which is responsible for the Gaza Strip said at least 53 Christian families’ houses have been completely destroyed, and most of the buildings belonging to Christian institutions have been damaged by airstrikes.

Particularly disheartening, it says, was the loss of the Catholic school of the Holy Rosary Sisters. This institution symbolised the Christian presence in Gaza and the Latin Catholic Church’s work in education.

The school is located in the Tal Al Hawa neighbourhood, one of the three areas of Gaza where most of the Christian population lives and which has been badly affected by airstrikes over the past two weeks.