As Christians around the globe observed Good Friday with solemn rituals and remembrance, tragedy struck Gaza, where Israeli air raids took the lives of at least 58 Palestinians in a single day. The deadliest assaults occurred in Gaza City and the northern region, though bombings were reported across the entire Strip — from Khan Younis to Rafah — according to medical personnel.

While destruction engulfed their surroundings, the Christian minority in Gaza quietly upheld their Holy Week traditions. Ihab Ayyad, speaking from a historic church, recalled how, in previous years, the faithful would visit one another to celebrate. “This year, everything is shattered — homes, families, our spirit,” he said. “So many loved ones are either gone or scattered. Our hearts are too heavy to rejoice.”

Elsewhere in the West Bank, Easter rituals were disrupted by both restrictions and aggression. With Israeli travel permits limiting access to Jerusalem, many Palestinian Christians were unable to join larger gatherings. In addition, reports emerged of Israeli settlers — shielded by the military — attacking Palestinians in the towns of Biddya and Beita. At least one person was injured.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz reiterated his country’s ongoing military objectives: to crush Hamas, secure hostages’ release, and attain “total victory.”

Yet, amid the chaos, a fragile hope persists. As journalist Hani Mahmoud reported from Gaza, the community’s quiet prayers represent a steadfast belief in peace — even as violence engulfs their world.