By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Palestinian church affairs officials urged churches worldwide to send aid and help protect Gaza’s places of worship after heavy rains.

Key Takeaways

• The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine appealed to churches worldwide for food, drinking water, medicines, tents and winter supplies.
• The committee said about 950,000 displaced Palestinians live in flood-prone areas, including more than 400,000 at high risk.
• Rainwater seeped into Gaza City’s historic Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church as the storm flooded some 70,000 tents across Gaza.

‘Prayer for Gaza Must Be Accompanied by Action’

The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine issued an urgent appeal on Saturday, asking churches worldwide to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza and help protect its places of worship as heavy rain battered displaced families without safe shelter.

The committee called for food, drinking water, medicines, tents and winter supplies, with priority for children, infants, older people and those who are ill. It urged churches to coordinate with Palestinian churches and relief organizations to reach the hardest-hit families.

“Prayer for Gaza must be accompanied by action for its people,” the committee said. 

Gaza Nursing Student Dies of Israeli Strike Wounds as Floods Displace Families

It urged churches to press governments and international institutions to secure unhindered access for humanitarian aid, medical supplies and fuel.

Rainwater Enters Historic Gaza Church

Rainwater seeped into Gaza City’s historic Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church, the committee said, calling for the protection of places of worship and repairs to damaged religious and historic sites.

The committee said Gaza’s Christian communities share the displacement and loss of shelter experienced by Palestinians across the Strip. It said protecting the Christian presence in the Holy Land was inseparable from defending Palestinians’ rights to life, freedom and dignity.

Palestinian Presidency Calls for UN Intervention

The Palestinian presidency separately called for immediate UN Security Council intervention to secure unrestricted aid access and international protection for Palestinians. It blamed Israeli attacks, the blockade and obstruction of aid for deepening the crisis.

A Cup of Tea After a Sleepless Night: What Strength Means in Gaza

Heavy rain and strong winds have battered Gaza since Friday evening, flooding around 70,000 tents and bringing down dozens of walls, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. The church affairs committee estimated that 950,000 displaced people live in flood-prone areas, including more than 400,000 at high risk.

Israel’s genocide in Gaza has devastated homes and infrastructure and killed more than 74,000 Palestinians since October 2023. Despite the ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, Israeli restrictions on aid, shelter supplies and reconstruction materials continue to hamper relief efforts.

(PC, AA)