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Over the past month, Pope Francis has been regularly checking in on the priest and parishioners taking shelter in Gaza City's Holy Family Church during the intense fighting. He offers prayers and expresses his sympathy for their difficult situation. However, for George Anton and his family, who are seeking refuge in the church, the pope's contact brings comfort but little hope of protection. George expresses his despair and fear, describing the feeling of waiting for death to come without knowing when, how, or why it will happen. As an employee of the Roman Catholic charity Caritas, he has had to have difficult conversations with his young daughters, explaining the reality of the war they are living in. The children, like others in the church, are exposed to the horrors of death and destruction through the internet and the sounds of rockets. When Israeli forces ordered residents to move from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip, many from the small Christian community, numbering about 1,000 people, chose to seek safety within their churches. However, after an Israeli air strike hit the Greek Orthodox Church of St Porphyrius, one of the oldest churches in the world, any sense of security was lost. The attack, which claimed the lives of eighteen Christians, including women and children, was condemned as a war crime by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The Israeli military claimed that their target had been a nearby Hamas command center. The Christian community in the occupied West Bank has shown solidarity with those suffering in Gaza through special prayers. Many Gazan Christians have relatives in the West Bank, although restrictions on permits have made it difficult for them to reunite in recent years. Shireen Awwad, who has lost her aunt in the church attack, has cousins, uncles, and another injured aunt in Gaza City. She says that, for the first time, her relatives are considering leaving Gaza due to the uncertainty and dangers they face. The Christian presence in Gaza has a long history, with St Porphyrius being a significant figure as a fifth century bishop. However, many Christians have moved away, especially since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. The blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt has further affected the population. Reverend Dr Munther Isaac, a Lutheran pastor in Bethlehem, expresses concern about the future of the Christian community in Gaza, stating that their long tradition may come to an end. While Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire, Palestinian Christians are disappointed with the public comments made by other Church leaders, including Archbishop Justin Welby of the Church of England. Some accuse him of prioritizing British political considerations over recognizing Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, George Anton and his family remain in the church, refusing to evacuate despite the calls to do so. They consider Gaza their home and believe it is where they belong, even amidst the ongoing danger and destruction.