Gaza Church Hosts Funeral for Mother and Daughter Killed in Strike

A funeral service was held at Gaza City’s Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church on October 3, 2026, for a Palestinian Christian mother and daughter who were among five people killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike on a residential apartment building. The Gaza church funeral brought together grieving relatives, parishioners and friends – including Muslims – in one of Gaza’s oldest churches, as health officials confirmed at least five Palestinians were killed in the strike, four of them women. (Read the full version of this story on Watan News’ main site.)

Gaza church funeral draws Muslims and Christians alike

Friends, including Muslims, and relatives gathered at Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City to pay their respects during the funeral of the Christian mother and daughter. Christians make up just 1 per cent of Gaza’s more than two million population, and the shared mourning underscored how the loss was felt across communities.

Fourteen-year-old Fouad Al-Najjar, Mary’s son, stood among the mourners. “Today is essentially the worst day of my life. I lost my mother and my grandmother today,” he said, adding that he had personally lost many Muslims and Christians who were dear to him.

Strike details: apartment building destroyed

An Israeli airstrike killed at least five Palestinians, including four women, in an apartment building in Gaza City early on Saturday, health and civil defence service officials said. The strike destroyed the apartment building and started a fire.

“We were asleep and suddenly heard continuous strikes and heavy explosions. The children woke up startled and started running and screaming,” witness Ahmed Al-Dahdouh said. He described pulling bodies from the rubble of the destroyed building. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Wider context: ceasefire under strain

The strike comes as Israel has stepped up its attacks in recent weeks, saying Hamas has been rearming and launching attacks in violation of the ceasefire. Hamas has denied trying to carry out attacks or rebuild its arsenal, and accuses Israel of undermining the Gaza peace deal.

Last year’s US-brokered Gaza ceasefire was meant to lead toward reconstruction of the territory and an end to the conflict, but little progress has been made. Gaza health officials estimate that at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since last October’s ceasefire.

Conclusion

The funeral at Gaza’s Saint Porphyrius Church for a mother and daughter killed in an overnight airstrike laid bare the human cost of a conflict grinding on despite a ceasefire. Mourners from different faiths stood side by side inside one of Gaza’s oldest churches, while the boy who lost his mother and grandmother spoke for an exhausted city: people are losing loved ones every day, and the war, he said, must end.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where was the Gaza church funeral held?

The funeral was held at Saint Porphyrius Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City’s Old City on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

Who were the mother and daughter?

Maisa Abu Dawoud, a Christian mother known as Umm Michel, and her daughter Mary, known as Umm Fouad. Both volunteered to help parishioners and displaced people sheltering at Gaza’s churches.

How many people died in the strike?

At least five Palestinians were killed in the overnight airstrike on an apartment building in Gaza City, including four women, according to health and civil defence officials.

What did the victims’ family say?

Mary’s 14-year-old son, Fouad Al-Najjar, said: “Today is essentially the worst day of my life. I lost my mother and my grandmother today.” He appealed for an end to the war.

What is the broader context of the strike?

Israel has stepped up strikes in recent weeks, accusing Hamas of rearming in violation of last year’s US-brokered ceasefire – a claim Hamas denies. Gaza health officials estimate at least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the ceasefire took effect.