GAZA: A few days before Christmas, Khalil Sayegh learned his father had died due to a lack of medical care, Sayegh said by telephone from Washington DC where he works.
"I was told by a relative... who had learned it from a priest," he said.
The news left him feeling shattered, he said, adding that he has yet to speak with other relatives stuck in Gaza which has been under heavy Israeli bombardment since October 7.
Mobile and Internet services, as well as electricity, have been largely disrupted in the Palestinian territory since the war broke out.
"Days go by without us having any news," said Sayegh, 29.
"We live with fear... not knowing if they are dead or alive, if they have food and water or if they are hungry."
The war has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and put out of action most of its hospitals, particularly in the north of the territory, the United Nations says.
Food, medicine, water and fuel are hard to come by.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem reported that on December 16 two Christian women were "murdered" by an Israeli army sniper inside the same church where Sayegh's family are sheltering.
Pope Francis deplored the deaths, which he said happened in a church complex "where there are none but families, children, people who are sick and have disabilities".
The Israeli army said it had "no reports of a hit on the church", stressing it "does not target civilians, no matter their religion".
A Jerusalem-based nun, who declined to be identified, said she is only able to reach two other nuns sheltering at the Holy Family Church every three or four days.
On Monday, they told her that water supplies were cut and that none of the displaced had been able to shower for at least two weeks.
"God be with them. Their situation is miserable."
Father Ibrahim Nino of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem said the displaced at the church have enough food, water and electricity to last them days and must be frugal.
This year, church leaders in Jerusalem and the city council of Bethlehem -- home to the Church of the Nativity where Christians believe Christ was born -- decided to dampen Christmas celebrations in solidarity with Gazans.
And in a Christmas message, the patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem lamented that "hope seems distant and beyond" reach for Gazans caught up in 11-weeks of deadly violence. — AFP
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