Christians in Gaza City gathered to observe Palm Sunday, the occasion preceding Easter, at the historic St. Porphyrius Orthodox Church. The solemn celebration unfolded just hours after Israeli airstrikes devastated the reception and emergency buildings of the nearby Baptist Hospital.
The joy traditionally associated with Palm Sunday was absent from the faces of worshippers. Typically, a festive occasion eagerly awaited by Christians, especially children, the day is marked by families dressing their children in holiday attire and carrying long candles in a celebratory atmosphere. This year, however, the mood was somber.
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St. Porphyrius Church, located in Gaza’s Zeitoun neighborhood, stands as the city’s oldest church. Named after Saint Porphyrius, who is buried there, the church holds his tomb in its northeastern corner.
The Baptist Hospital, operated by the Episcopal Anglican Church in Jerusalem, suffered extensive damage in the airstrikes. A nearby church affiliated with the hospital also sustained significant harm.
Situated in a residential area of Zeitoun, the hospital lies close to St. Philip’s Evangelical Church to the west, separated by Umm al-Limon Street.
This street connects Palestine Square in the north to Askula Square in the south, eventually leading to the main thoroughfare, Omar al-Mukhtar Street. Approximately 230 meters south of the hospital stands the Greek Orthodox St. Porphyrius Church, built in the fifth century.
The hospital is part of the Shamaa area, which also includes the Latin Monastery Church and a convent for Christian nuns known as the “Rosary Sisters” and “Dar al-Salam.”
Early this morning, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Baptist Hospital in central Gaza, destroying one of its buildings and igniting fires in several sections, rendering the facility completely out of service.
This attack comes amid an ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where Israeli forces have been accused of committing acts of genocide against the population for the past 18 months.
Palm Sunday, the seventh Sunday of Lent marks the final Sunday before Good Friday, which is followed by Easter Sunday, commemorating the resurrection of Christ.
