Hamas, ever sensitive to appearing anti-Christian, responded by sending a delegation to a church and effectively forcing the priest to lie about how wonderful things are:
A Hamas delegation in Gaza on Tuesday visited the Church of Saint Prefors and the Greek Orthodox pastor Bishop Alexos.
The delegation included Bassem Naim, Maher Al-Houli, Fawzi Barhoum, while they were received by Bishop Alexios, pastor of the Church in Gaza, and Issa Terzi, Chairman of the Council of Agents.
The delegation stated that the visit comes within the framework of promoting good relations and values of love, brotherhood and coexistence among all our people, Muslims and Christians.
Al-Houli stressed that Christians in Gaza live in safety just like Muslims and no difference between them, pointing out that this visit is to emphasize the lofty meanings of coexistence, love and security.Of course the archbishop didn't feel any pressure at all to toe the Hamas line with Hamas officials standing next to him speaking to a Hamas newspaper.
For his part, Archbishop Alexios thanked the delegation for his visit and said that Gaza is a role model for coexistence between Muslims and Christians on the basis of national partnership.
He added: "We do not feel at all any targeting us as Christians in particular, but we find all the love, appreciation and respect of Hamas, and the great interest of its leadership, as well as the follow-up and keenness of all government agencies in the difficulties or challenges."