"GAZA, (PIC)-- Ismail Haneyya, the prime minister of the PA caretaker government, has assured Palestinian Christians in Gaza of full protection, affirming that Palestinian Christians are a genuine part of the Palestinian social structure.
Haneyya’s affirmation came as he received priest Manuel Musallam of the Latin Church in Gaza Strip at his office in Gaza city, and stressed the importance of Palestinian Christians’ role in defending the Palestinian issue.
“You aren’t in danger… you are safe on your lives and property as you are part of us and we are part of you, and we shall continue the march of liberation together till we free occupied Jerusalem from occupation”, Haneyya said, addressing Palestinian Christians in the meeting with Musallam.
He also vowed not to allow anyone to harm Christians in Palestine, saying “Christians’ rights are granted by the law and we are all equal in rights and duties in our country”.
Moreover, Haneyya promised Musallam to prosecute the vandals who torched parts of the Church and a Christian school in Gaza after Hamas succeeded in routing the mutiny trend in Gaza Strip.
For his part, Musallam thanked Haneyya for the brotherly reception he accorded to him, confirming, “Our presence as Christians in Palestine is per se an Islamic issue, and thus, Muslims are obliged to protect us”.
He also underlined that Christians in Palestine are an inseparable part of the Palestinian people, affirming, “There are no differences between us at all”.
Furthermore, Musallam considered the attack on the Church as an attempt to drive a wedge between Muslims and Christians in Palestine.
“We know very well that our Muslim brothers have nothing to do with the attack, and we also know that the attack was carried out by a group of fanatic elements that must be prosecuted”, said Musallam.
Hamas Movement was and still is maintaining a warm relationship with Christians in Palestine as evident by the inclusion of MP Hussam Al-Taweel, who is a Christian, on its list of candidates in the PA legislative elections last year. Taweel won in the elections.
One of the Christians in Gaza city also provided a hideout for late Hamas’s prominent figure and military leader Sheikh Salah Shehada before his assassination by Israel in 2002."
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