Gaza Christians in peril after takeover by Hamas

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | June 27, 2007 | Joshua Mitnick

[JKrive]

TEL AVIV — The future of a tiny Christian community in the Gaza Strip is in doubt after the takeover of Gaza by the militant Islamist group Hamas.

Recent attacks and threats against churches and institutions affiliated with the Christian community of about 2,000 have raised questions about the fate of minorities in the densely populated coastal strip of 1.5 million people now under Islamist control.

Christians say the primary danger comes not from Hamas — which has an interest in protecting Christians — but from more-fanatic Muslim groups that are sprouting up amid its rise.

"They are small groups that are very militant and want to enforce Shariah law, and want the Christians to abide with it," said the Rev. Hanna Massad, pastor of the Gaza Baptist Church.

"Many Christians are nervous and don't know what to expect. I think many of them, if they have a chance to leave, they will leave," Mr. Massad said.

He said his congregation of about 200 has been able to worship as normal since the Hamas-Fatah fighting subsided a little over a week ago and calm returned to the streets.

But the congregation has also been shaken by several threats.

The leader of one extremist group, Jihadia Salafiya, said that Christians wouldn't be safe in Gaza unless they comply with Islamic laws requiring head coverings for women and banning alcohol consumption.

[JKrive]

This is one story that you won't read in the New York Times or the Washington Post. Yet you'd think that the liberals would pick up on the persecution of these minorities. (That's right, Christians are a minority over in Gaza right now.)

I also posted an interesting story on Critical Mass about the irony of this situation.

[kromike]

(That's right, Christians are a minority over in Gaza right now.)

In the Liberal-dhimmocrat mind-set, there could be 100 trillion Islamo-fascist-Nazis and they still would be treated as an oppressed "minority."

[DemEater]

Good thing Condi promoted elections there (which along with the subsequent violence brought Hamas to power) against the advice of the Israelis and Abbas. Christians aren’t doing so hot in Iraq right now either.

[freepertoo]

Oh Lord...PLEASE be with your people!