[6] It is pastored by Hanna Massad, who lives in exile in Jordan since the church was damaged by a nearby bomb blast during an airstrike on Hamas targets by Israeli forces in December 2008.

[13] Gaza's Christian minority had traditionally enjoyed good relations with the territory's larger Muslim majority.

Prior to the breakdown of law and order in 2007, the Church ran youth programs, a library, and medical clinics.

[14][better source needed] During an Israeli air raid in December 2008, the building was damaged by a nearby bomb blast.

[8][9] Because of its height, unusual in this mostly low-rise city, the Gaza Baptist Church building was repeatedly commandeered by Fatah and Hamas troops as an observation post during the Fatah–Hamas conflict.

[17] In October 2007, one of Gaza Baptist Church's leaders, Rami Ayyad, was kidnapped, publicly beaten, and murdered by unidentified militants.

[16][22] Following Ayyad's death, Gaza authorities advised Pastor Massad to relocate in order to ensure the safety of himself and his family.

[6] The Israeli blockade of Gaza, according to Massad in 2010, has led to "[a] lot of desperation and hopelessness among the people ... more poverty and more suffering".