- Title: Leaked Hamas Christmas memo causes Christian anger in Gaza
- Date: 23rd December 2020
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 20, 2020) (REUTERS) (MUTE) DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING MOSQUE AND CHURCH IN GAZA CITY GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 21, 2020) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN LIVING IN GAZA, GHADA ABU DAOUD CLEANING TABLE VIEW OF CROSS AT ABU DAOUD'S HOUSE VIEW OF CHRISTMAS TREE AT ABU DAOUD'S HOUSE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN LIVING IN GAZA, GHADA ABU DAOUD, SAYING: "This year, celebrations are different, we won't be travelling, There are no permits to leave (Gaza). Each of us will spend it at home because of the corona(virus) situation that is happening all over the world, and so far without a real solution." VIEW OF CHRISTMAS TREE ABU DAOUD ARRANGING CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN LIVING IN GAZA, GHADA ABU DAOUD, SAYING: "This time last year I was in Bethlehem, and I spent Christmas Eve at Manger's square and at the church, we prayed, and we visited the holy sites. The atmosphere there was very nice and we could feel the Christmas celebrations more there than here in Gaza." GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 20, 2020) (REUTERS) (MUTE) DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING MOSQUE AND CHURCH IN GAZA CITY GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 23, 2020) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN CHRISTIAN JOURNALIST, SAMER TARAZI LOOKING AT PHONE
- Embargoed: 6th January 2021 14:16
- Keywords: Christians Christmas Gaza Hamas lockdown
- Location: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Middle East,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001DA88IMF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: A leaked Hamas memo showing Gaza's ruling Islamist group wanted to curb Christmas celebrations among Gaza's Muslim majority has angered the enclave's tiny Christian community in the run-up to the holiday.
The ministry of religious affairs document, dated Dec. 15, called for "activities by the directorate of preaching and spiritual guidance to limit interaction with Christmas".
The leak went public last weekend, drawing anger from Palestinian Christians.
"We set an example for the world in not having any sectarian problems, therefore, we were very angry," said Samer Tarazi, a Christian journalist in Gaza. He said Christians just wanted life to continue "as normal".
Jerusalem's Greek Orthodox Archbishop, Atallah Hanna, called the memo "inflammatory", but said it "will not harm our unity and good relations".
Hamas said the reaction was exaggerated and that it only wanted to ensure Muslims marked Christian holidays in accordance with Islamic law.
"There was never any intention to offend Christians or limit their ability to celebrate and perform their religious rituals," said Bassem Naim, a Hamas official.
The ministry, which is tasked with running Gaza's mosques and looking after Muslim and Christian affairs in the coastal strip, quickly released a statement saying Christians "have the right to hold their religious celebrations and they can't be offended or be restricted".
The statement added: "Just as Muslims are commanded to avoid violations of (Islamic law) on Muslim holidays, it is all the more reason for them to avoid (such violations) during the holidays of others."
It is rare for religious tensions in Gaza to spill over into the public domain.
While around 1% of the population of the Palestinian Territories as a whole are Christian, the percentage is small in Gaza, where there are around 1,000 mostly Greek Orthodox Christians among nearly 2 million Muslims.
The Christian community was already upset that celebrations will be limited because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Gaza Christians cannot make their usual Christmas trips to Bethlehem this year due to increased COVID-19 travel restrictions imposed by Israel - which has for years imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip citing security concerns about Hamas - and Palestinian curbs on movement to prevent the spread of infection.
(Production: Mohammed Salem, Mohammad Shana, Suheir Sheikh) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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