BEIRUT (LiCAS News): Maronite Father Pierre al-Rai, the parish priest of the Christian border town of Qlayaa, Lebanon, died from injuries sustained when an Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) tank opened fire on a house on March 9, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency and a medical source cited by Agence France-Presse.
Reports state that the house was “hit twice in succession by artillery shelling from a hostile Merkava tank”. The first strike wounded the homeowner and his wife. Neighbours—including Father al-Rai—and Red Cross paramedics rushed to assist the injured. Shortly afterwards, a second shell struck the house, wounding the priest and three others. Father al-Rai later died of his injuries.
It was not immediately clear why Israeli forces targeted the house, which was located on the outskirts of the town.
Qlayaa is a Christian village of approximately 8,000 residents in the Marjeyoun district near the Israeli border. Until now, it had not been drawn into the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
The mayor, Hanna Daher, urged Lebanese authorities to prevent armed activity in the area. He called on the Lebanese army and state to “prevent any armed manifestations inside the town or in its vicinity, and to pursue anyone who carries weapons outside the framework of legitimate institutions.”
The people of Qlayaa, he said, “refuse to allow their town to be turned into an arena for any armed activity that might endanger civilians.”
On March 6, Father al-Rai joined residents at a gathering in the nearby town of Marjayoun, where locals stated that they would remain in their homes despite evacuation warnings issued by the Israeli army to residents living south of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometres from the border.
“When we defend our land, we defend it peacefully, and we carry only the weapons of peace, goodness, love and prayer,” Father al-Rai said, adding, “We are compelled to remain in danger because these are our homes and we will not leave them.”
Residents of Christian towns along or near the border have attempted to remain uninvolved in the confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel.
The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need said that Father al-Rai served in the Maronite Diocese of Tyre and worked with the organisation in supporting pastoral activities in Qlayaa parish, which serves about 3,000 parishioners.
“Pope Leo XIV expresses his deep sorrow for all the victims of the recent bombings in the Middle East, for the many innocent people, including many children,” Vatican spokesperson, Matteo Bruni said.
The pope also mentioned “those who were helping them,” naming Father al-Rai. Bruni said the pope “is following events with concern and prays for an end to hostilities as soon as possible.”
