IDF calls for evacuation of Jerusalem Church temple in Gaza

Palestinian Christians at a service in the Greek Orthodox Church of St Porphyrius in Gaza City. April 18, 2025. Photo: AP/Jihad Alshrafi

On August 27, 2025, the Times of Israel reported that the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City received an evacuation order from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). This church belongs to the Jerusalem Patriarchate and is considered the main Orthodox temple of the sector.

At the same time, the Catholic Church of the Holy Family, which is under the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, has not yet received an evacuation order. On the map published by the IDF, it is not included in the "red zone".

However, the third church in the Strip, the Anglican St. Philip’s Church, which is part of the compound of the Al-Ahli Arab Anglican Hospital in Gaza City, is situated in an area under evacuation order, according to the IDF map.

It is noted that Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa issued a joint statement. They emphasized that the clergy and nuns will not leave their shrines. "At the time of this statement, evacuation orders were already in place for several neighborhoods in Gaza City,” reads the statement. “Since the outbreak of the war, the Greek Orthodox compound of Saint Porphyrius and the Holy Family compound have been a refuge for hundreds of civilians… Leaving Gaza City and trying to flee to the south would be nothing less than a death sentence. For this reason, the clergy and nuns have decided to remain and continue to care for all those who will be in the compounds," the document states.

Previously, Christian shrines in Gaza were already damaged as a result of Israeli strikes, which caused international condemnation and protest from Churches and humanitarian organizations.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Israeli police banned the celebration of the Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor.

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