The Israeli occupation continues its brutal genocidal campaign on the Gaza Strip for the second consecutive year, unfolding one of the most horrific wars of the modern era, marked by the most heinous massacres and crimes, with women and children bearing the brunt of the devastation.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that 1,783 Palestinians have been martyred and 4,683 have been injured since the resumption of Israel’s aggressive assault on Gaza.
More Deaths and Destruction
On Sunday morning, Israeli airstrikes targeted the home of the Darwish family in the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, claiming the lives of three Palestinians: Muadh Bakr Darwish, Mahmoud Bakr Darwish, and Janna Ismail Darwish. Several others were wounded in the attack.
A Palestinian was killed and two others injured this morning following an artillery attack by Israeli occupation forces which targeted farmers in the town of Abasan Al-Kabira, southern Gaza. pic.twitter.com/gv7lBlQvHB
— Palestinian Eve Network+🇵🇸 (@PalEvePlus) April 20, 2025
Further air raids also struck the town of Abasan Al-Kabira, located east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The attack resulted in additional fatalities, while another airstrike targeted the tents of displaced persons in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis. The bombing led to one martyr, with several others injured.
Escalating Attacks Across Gaza
In other developments, Israeli drones launched a strike near Abu Ma’ala land in the northwest of Al-Nuseirat, while artillery fire and gunshots from Israeli forces targeted the eastern and western parts of Gaza City.
A devastated Palestinian father carries the lifeless body of his unborn baby, killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza before ever having a chance to live. pic.twitter.com/EKHW8337w5
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 20, 2025
The Israeli occupation naval vessels also opened fire off the coast of Gaza City, adding to the already dire situation.
Simultaneously, the Israeli military launched flares over the eastern part of Gaza’s Al-Tufah neighborhood, coinciding with continued artillery bombardment of eastern Gaza City.
Christians in Gaza Mark Easter Amid Ongoing Aggression
For the second consecutive year, Christians in Gaza observed Easter Sunday without the usual joy and celebration, as the ongoing Israeli genocidal campaign continues.
In an attempt to preserve religious traditions amidst the devastation, the celebration was limited to a somber gathering at St. Porphyrius Church in Gaza’s old city, attended by only a handful of Christians. The festive atmosphere, decorations, and usual celebrations were absent, overshadowed by the ongoing horrors of war.
The church, itself damaged by repeated Israeli airstrikes, streamed the service live on Facebook, capturing the mournful expressions of the attendees, reflecting the grim reality of this Easter, the holiest day in Christianity.
Following Holy Saturday, Christians in Palestine began Easter Sunday with prayers and hymns at St. Porphyrius Church, praying for peace and an end to the relentless war.
Before the conflict, Gaza’s Christian population had already been shrinking due to emigration, with current estimates at around 2,000 people. About 70% belong to the Greek Orthodox Church, while the remainder are Latin Catholics.
Father Monzer Ishaq, pastor of the Lutheran Evangelical Church in Bethlehem and Beit Sahour, voiced concerns to Anadolu News Agency about the survival of Christians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, fearing that the ongoing genocide and restrictive policies could lead to their disappearance.
This Easter was marked by solemn prayers, candlelight vigils, and quiet acts of remembrance, all overshadowed by the unrelenting airstrikes and massacres by Israeli occupation forces.
Source: Al-Manar Website
