The documentary produced by KTO Télévision Catholique titled « La guerre n’aura pas le dernier mot » (War Doesn’t Have the Last Word) traces the life of Christian communities in Gaza Strip, Jenin, and Taybeh during the recent war on Gaza, presenting testimonies from those who remain as well as from members of the community who now reside outside Gaza.
The viewer is immersed in a landscape of destruction, where the effects of violence and evil are etched into faces and voices. Yet within this devastated setting stands the Church of the Holy Family, transformed into both sanctuary and lifeline, a place where bread is shared, children gather, and prayer rises stubbornly against the smoke of destruction.
Following the testimonies of clergy members, the documentary highlights the continued presence of the Church in the region and documents how Christian communities navigate the current circumstances.
The film also reflects on the broader vocation of the Church in the Holy Land, particularly during periods of crisis. It presents how faith practices, communal support, and liturgical life remain central elements of daily life for many of the faithful despite the surrounding difficulties.
A central figure in the documentary is Father Gabriel Romanelli, who chooses presence over safety, fidelity over flight. His words are simple yet weighty: to remain with his people is to embody the Gospel in its most concrete form. The documentary also references the appeals of Pope Francis and the pastoral visits of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who has accompanied and supported the community.
In the end, the film offers neither naïve optimism nor political solutions, but a form of theological defiance: war may devastate the land, but it does not possess the final word, concluding with the faithful singing a hymn: “Love revives all hearts, love quenches the fire of war…Together we walk towards life, hand in hand”.
(English subtitles are available on YouTube)
