The untold story Gaza’s last 260 Christians and their fight for survival

Toward the beginning of the Iron Swords War last year between the State of Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization, ALL ISRAEL NEWS reported that there were about 1,000 Christians, mainly Catholic and Greek Orthodox, taking shelter in two historic churches, about half of whom eventually were able to obtain visas to leave Gaza.

Last November, just one month after the Oct. 7 attack – when Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and massacred 1,200, abducting 251 hostages, and committing atrocities against men, women and children of all ages – Joel C. Rosenberg, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of ALL ISRAEL NEWS and ALL ARAB NEWS, urged Israeli leaders to help evacuate Palestinian Christians out of Gaza and into the West Bank immediately, as the civilians were facing death by Hamas terrorists if they were forced to move south.

On Nov. 19, 2023, Rosenberg provided an update saying that the safety and security of those Christians in Gaza were being discussed at the highest levels of the Israeli government.

Less than a week later, Rosenberg reported signs of hope, with an update that many of the Christians were beginning to safely leave the Gaza Strip, with many obtaining visas and vacating the area.

In August 2024, Rosenberg reported that the Palestinian Christians were no longer in a “grave” or “desperate” situation and that God was providing them with the assistance needed through Christian and non-Christian NGOs.

Now, three months later, Rosenberg shares the latest update regarding the hundreds of Christians who have remained in Gaza until now.

“I want to tell you that I'm grateful that the Lord has been opening the door over the last year for roughly now about 700 or so, almost 800 Christians to leave Gaza,” Rosenberg said.

According to his latest report, based on multiple sources, only about a quarter of them now remain.

“It is an answer to prayer that there's only about 260 left. The problem with that – just think about that with me – is that we don't want there to be no Christians in Gaza,”

Outlining the struggles, the breakthroughs in provision and the answers to prayer, Rosenberg explained what the Christian community in Gaza has endured over the last year. Drawing on biblical precedents, Rosenberg emphasizes that fleeing persecution is not an act of cowardice, but acknowledges that there are times when God calls believers to stay and serve as witnesses.

“I'm grateful for the 700 to 800 Christians that have gotten out of Gaza. But we need to pray that God would strengthen that which remains,” he emphasized. “And we need to pray that the Lord raises up Muslims out of Islam and to come to faith in Jesus as King, as Messiah, as Savior, as God, as the crucified and resurrected Savior.”

Indeed, Gaza is home to not only traditional Christians but also a growing community of Evangelical believers and an increasing number of Muslim-background believers.

Rosenberg said: "I'm hearing consistently from a number of Arab ministries and other ministries that have direct contact inside the Gaza Strip, that there are between 200 and 300 Muslim-background believers, what we often refer to as 'MBBs' – so, a decreasing number of ‘above ground’ Christians, Catholics, Orthodox and Evangelicals, and a growing number of Muslim background believers.”

While the war will eventually end, lives have been shattered, he said. Some Christians have ventured back to their homes only to find that they were taken over by other families.

With all the chaos of war and terrorists belonging to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad still at large in the Gaza Strip, there are many unknowns about what will happen next.

Rosenberg urged our readers to continue praying on behalf of the Christian community in Gaza.