Gaza’s Christian community is in mourning following the deaths of a mother and daughter who were killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza City. The strike claimed the lives of five Palestinians, including Maysa Abu Daoud and her daughter, Mary al-Najjar, marking another tragic incident amid ongoing violations of a United States-brokered ceasefire agreement with Hamas.
Mourning at Saint Porphyrius Church
The fatal strike hit the ground floor of a residential building located in the Remal neighborhood on a Saturday. According to Palestine’s Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, both Maysa Abu Daoud and Mary al-Najjar were local Palestinian Christians who dedicated much of their time to assisting parishioners and displaced individuals sheltering at the nearby Holy Family Church.
Following the attack, funeral services for the two women were held at Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City’s Old City. Church leaders and community members gathered to honor their memory and offer support to grieving relatives and parishioners.
Condolences and Wider Context
In an official statement, the patriarch extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the wider Christian community in Gaza. The attack occurred against a backdrop of persistent violence and continued breaches of the fragile ceasefire agreement brokered by Washington.
While international attention and diplomatic efforts frequently shift across various regional conflicts, the humanitarian toll on civilians inside the Gaza Strip remains severe. Local authorities and community organizations continue to document casualties from ongoing military actions across multiple neighborhoods, leaving vulnerable populations searching for safety and enduring deep grief.
