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Well, this is Diaa Ostaz, a journalist based in Gaza and I would love to explain for you the atmosphere in the Gaza Strip during Lent and Ramadan, especially inside one of the oldest churches in the world. So, during my visit to the Church of St. Porphyrios in the Gaza Strip during Ramadan and Lent, the atmosphere was filled with love, spirituality and a strong bond between the Christian and Muslims communities in the Gaza Strip, especially the Muslims whom the church is hosting as displaced people.
Everyone I met, both Muslims and Christians, mentioned that God is love. And this love was evident among them all.
The church has hosted [450] displaced Muslims and Christians during the war in the Gaza Strip, and many are still residing within its wall due to the severe housing shortage. According to the United Nations, 92 percent of the Gaza Strip is either completely or partially destroyed. The church provides everything that displaced people need, including food, supplies and clothing.
However, they all faced the challenges during the famine in the Gaza Strip during the war and experienced terror within the church, particularly when one of its buildings was bombed, killing 18 displaced Christians. But the bonds remained strong, and there were some reasons for the joy among them.
One of the joyful moments was when two Christian children and a Muslim baby girl inside the church were birthed. Moreover, one of the displaced Christians inside the church likes to distribute water to fasting Muslims in the streets before iftar, which is the breaking of the fast. He said, “I do this because God is love.”