Lebanon - A tragic incident has shaken ecclesiastical circles and the Christian community in southern Lebanon, as Father Pierre El Raii, parish priest of Saint George Church in Qlayaa, was martyred after being injured during artillery shelling while helping the wounded and assisting the injured.
Details of the Attack
According to field reports, a house in Qlayaa, located in the Marjeyoun district, was struck twice in succession by artillery fire from an Israeli Merkava tank. The first strike injured homeowner Klofis Boutros and his wife, who were rushed by Lebanese Red Cross and Civil Defense teams to Marjeyoun Governmental Hospital.
Minutes later, the same house was shelled again while townspeople had gathered to assist the wounded. This second strike injured Father El Raii along with Elias Boulos, Paul Faris, and Liliane Al-Sayyed.
Martyrdom of Father El Raii
Despite being swiftly transferred to hospital, Father El Raii’s injuries proved fatal. He passed away shortly after arrival, ascending as a martyr of service and pastoral care. He had rushed to the site of the shelling to aid his parishioners, embodying his mission of compassion and sacrifice until the very end.
Eyewitness Testimony
Speaking to Vatican media, Father Toufic Bou Merhi, a Franciscan of the Custody of the Holy Land and parish priest of the Latins in Tyre and Deirmimas, recounted the final moments: “There was an initial attack that hit a house in his parish area, injuring one of the parishioners. Father Pierre rushed with dozens of young men to help. At that moment, another shell struck the same house, injuring the priest.”
He added: “Father Pierre was truly a pillar for the Christians in that region, always present alongside the people in their difficult circumstances.”
Community Grief and Fear
Father Bou Merhi described the sorrow and fear gripping the Christian community in the southern villages: “This is a time of pain for the entire Catholic community. People are mourning this tragedy while also living in great fear. Until now, residents of the Christian villages resisted leaving their homes, but today everything has been turned upside down.”
He further noted the hardships faced by locals amid Lebanon’s economic crisis, explaining that leaving one’s home often means homelessness or unaffordable rent.
Legacy
The shelling caused material damage to the targeted house and surrounding area, while leaving the community in shock and mourning. With the passing of Father Pierre El Raii, Qlayaa loses one of its faithful shepherds, remembered as a martyr of love and pastoral duty—a priest who did not hesitate to risk his life to save his parishioners in their hour of need.