Vatican City: The parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza, Fr Gabriel Romanelli, has made a fresh appeal to the international community for urgent humanitarian assistance, saying the suffering of people in Gaza has reached a level that is difficult to describe. He warned that the humanitarian crisis has become so severe that even the word "disastrous" no longer fully reflects the reality faced by families across the territory.
In a video message shared through the parish's social media channels and in comments to the Italian Catholic news agency SIR, the Argentine born priest spoke about the worsening conditions that continue to affect daily life in Gaza. He said people are struggling to survive as shortages of fuel, transport, food and other basic necessities continue to grow.
Fr Romanelli explained that even travelling short distances has become a major challenge. Most of the vehicles belonging to the parish are no longer working because replacement parts are impossible to find. To keep one vehicle running, the parish had to remove the battery from another. The only vehicle still being used by the priests recently came close to breaking down because of poor engine oil and a diesel system clogged by low quality fuel.
According to Fr Romanelli, diesel has become both extremely scarce and very expensive, with prices reaching around 13 US dollars per litre. Because of the shortage, many people have started producing improvised fuel by recycling plastic and nylon. However, he warned that this fuel is of very poor quality and can seriously damage vehicles and generators that are already difficult to repair.
The priest said he even thought about replacing the parish vehicles with a donkey drawn cart to continue serving people. However, that idea also proved impossible because the cost of a donkey has increased dramatically during the war. He said a donkey now costs about 50,000 shekels, or between 16,000 and 17,000 US dollars, compared with just 1,000 to 2,000 shekels before the conflict began.
Fr Romanelli stressed that reliable transport is essential for the people of Gaza. It allows doctors, aid workers and ordinary families to reach hospitals, schools and workplaces. It is also necessary for visiting the sick and delivering humanitarian assistance to those most in need. He pointed out that Gaza is not a place where everything can be reached on foot, especially with many roads damaged or destroyed during the fighting.
Despite the difficult situation, the priest welcomed reports that the Israeli government has given initial approval for an international force connected with the Board of Peace to enter the Rafah area. He described the development as a possible first step towards improving conditions, while acknowledging that much more needs to be done.
Fr Romanelli said the greatest priority remains helping Gaza's civilian population, many of whom have lost almost everything. He noted that while rebuilding homes and infrastructure will be essential in the future, people urgently need food, fuel, transport, medical supplies and other necessities to survive each day.
His appeal comes as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to worsen, with aid agencies and Church leaders repeatedly calling for greater international action to ensure that civilians receive the assistance they desperately need. Fr Romanelli urged the world not to forget the people of Gaza, saying that immediate humanitarian support is vital to ease their suffering and restore hope to communities living through the ongoing conflict.