Gaza City’s Greek Orthodox church compound, a site that sheltered hundreds of Palestinians who fled their homes during IDF shelling in the area, was used by members of Hamas to launch rockets at Israeli territory, a prominent Christian leader in the Strip said Wednesday.
When
the Israeli army expanded its offensive in the Palestinian enclave
several weeks ago, Archbishop Alexios of the Saint Porphyrios church
made the decision to open the holy site’s doors in a show of interfaith
solidarity, offering food, drink and shelter to all Gazans, regardless
of their religion.
But now, as both the IDF and Hamas have held
their fire for over two days in compliance with an Egypt-brokered
72-hour ceasefire, a frightened Alexios claimed that even with
Palestinians crowding the church, Islamist fighters had set up a rocket
launching site in the compound, CBN News reported.
Alexios went on to point out to CBN News reporters a roof terrace outside his office where he claimed rocket launchers had been set up. Citing security concerns, the archbishop refused to disclose any further details regarding Hamas activity in the area.
Alexios went on to point out to CBN News reporters a roof terrace outside his office where he claimed rocket launchers had been set up. Citing security concerns, the archbishop refused to disclose any further details regarding Hamas activity in the area.
On July 21, five or six Israeli shells slammed
into the church compound, as well as a nearby mosque, apparently in
response to rocket fire from the site.
Alexios stressed that he did not wish to
take sides in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, adding that he only
sought to offer help to the people of Gaza, CBN reported.
“We are disciples of Jesus, we must give love to everyone without condition,” he said.
“There’s a lot of anger on the street. We need forgiveness and love to flow,” added Alexios.
Gaza’s once thriving Christian community has
dwindled in number to around 1,500, most of them Greek Orthodox, out of a
predominantly Sunni Muslim population of over 1.7 million. The
Christian community in the Mediterranean seafront city, like their
counterparts elsewhere in the Middle East, has been shrinking due to
both conflict and unemployment.
Nearly half a million Palestinians out of
Gaza’s 1.8 million people were displaced by Israeli bombardment, and
many are still sheltering in schools after their homes were flattened in
the offensive. Some residential neighborhoods were particularly hard
hit by the Israeli army because of the Hamas practice of placing rocket
launchers among homes, schools, hospitals and mosques, according to
Israeli officials.
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