Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch, announced in a joint statement that the clergy and religious will not leave Gaza, despite Israel's decision to occupy the Strip. “The clergy and nuns will remain and continue to care for all those who are in the compounds. Leaving would be a death sentence,” the statement said. The two religious leaders reiterated that “there can be no future based on imprisonment, displacement of Palestinians or revenge” and that there is no justification for “the deliberate and forced mass displacement of civilians”. The conflict in the Middle East has reached its 690th day, while the population of Gaza continues to live in extremely difficult conditions.