[[History|Historically]] the Gaza Strip was part of the land controlled by ancient [[Israel]] after the removal of the [[Philistines]]. An Islamic area since the Islamic conquest of the 7th century, it was controlled by the British after [[World War I]] and was to be a part of an independent "Palestinian" state in 1948 based upon a UN partition, but the first Arab-Israeli War saw Israel take most of the region that would have made the Arab state and Egypt absorbed the Gaza Strip, which overflowed with refugees from the war. In 1967 Israel overran the area in the [[Six Day War]] and administered the region. They built settlements, but these never attracted many people and only 10,000 Israelis lived there by 2005 among the Arab residents. The Israeli government withdrew, with strong objections from the settlers, leaving the area under the control of the [[Palestinian Authority]]. In 2007, [[Hamas]] overran the Palestinian Authority and took ''de facto'' control for themselves.
==Christians in Gaza Strip==
[[File:Orthodox Christians in Gaza Strip.jpg|thumbnail|Greek [[Orthodox Christian|Orthodox Christians]] in the Gaza Strip.]]
The Arab Palestinians are roughly 94% Muslim. 89% of Christians in Gaza are Greek Orthodox while 9.3% are Catholic and 1.52% belongs to other denominations.<ref name=GreekReporter>{{cite web|url=https://greekreporter.com/2014/08/11/struggling-christian-minority-in-gaza/|title=Struggling Christian Minority In Gaza|date=August 11, 2014|publisher=Greek Reporter}}</ref>
The Gaza Strip is currently under the control of [[Hamas]], an Islamic terrorist organization. Christians face persecution and pressure to convert and have next to no rights.<ref>http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/palestinian_territories.php</ref>
There are three churches in Gaza: Catholic, Greek Orthodox, the Near East Council of Churches, Myrrh Bearers Society, the Orthodox Council of Churches and Baptist. Also the Ahli Arab Hospital is Christian.<ref name=GreekReporter/>
<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/2010/04/tested_by_fire</ref><ref>http://www.explorecorps.org/Reports_From_The_Field/Entries/2009/2/15_Gazas_Church_of_Saint_Porphyrius.html</ref>
<ref>http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=25263</ref>
At least since 2012, Gaza Christians sense pressure to convert to Islam
<ref>Nidal al-Mughrabi, "[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-christians-conversion-idUSBRE86P0J420120726 Gaza Christians sense pressure to convert to Islam]", Reuters, July 26, 2012</ref>
2019 report cited "Islamic oppression" as the main source of persecution at Christian small minority of Arab Palestinians.<ref name=jp25dec2019>[https://www.jpost.com/opinion/the-christian-crisis-612032 A Christian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank], The Jerusalem Post, Dec 25, 2019.
<br><i>
In the Gaza Strip, the Christian population has plummeted from about 3,000 a decade ago to an estimated 1,000 today, most of them Greek Orthodox.
</i>
<blockquote> ...
“Though the Christians in the PA avoid saying so publicly, many of them fear – with good reason – that Muslim aggression against them will only escalate,” wrote Edy Cohen, a researcher at the center. “Such fears are all the stronger in light of the thunderous silence of the Western [and Israeli] media, in the face of the Christian minority’s ongoing disappearance from the PA and Islamic lands in general.”
He added, pointedly, that “the ongoing international neglect of the plight of the Christians under PA rule can only lead to the vanishing of Christianity from the place where it emerged.”
In the Gaza Strip, the Christian population has plummeted from about 3,000 a decade ago to an estimated 1,000 today, most of them Greek Orthodox...
The situation of Christians in Bethlehem has deteriorated dramatically in the last century, and especially since the PA took control of the city in 1995. In 1947, Christians comprised about 85% of the city’s population, but that figure had plunged to 16% by 2016, and is estimated since then.
Bethlehem’s mayor at the time said that, “Due to the stress – either physical or psychological – and the bad economic situation, many people are emigrating: either Christians or Muslims, but it is more apparent among Christians because they already are a minority.”
A study by the Pew Research Center found that the decline in the Arab Christian population was both a result of a lower birth rate among Christians compared to Muslims and the fact that Christians were more likely to emigrate than any other religious group. A statistical analysis of the Christian exodus cited a lack of economic and educational opportunities among a community known for its middle-class status and higher education.</blockquote/></ref>
Since the 2007 Israel blockade of Gaza, Christians have not being able to visit Holy Sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, having the same struggle as other Gaza inhabitants. This has led many to hold extreme positions "which does not differentiate between race and religion", warns a report from the Young Men’s Christian Association.<ref name=GreekReporter/>
Palestinian Christians in Gaza fear for the future of their tiny community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/gaza-christians-fear-for-future-of-tiny-community|title=Gaza Christians fear for future of tiny community|date=July 25, 2012|publisher=Fox News}}</ref> This sentiment of fear of disappearing grew after the Israel-Gaza War that started in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-10/interview-with-custos-of-the-holy-land-fr-francesco-patton-ofm.html|title=Holy Land Custos: Fear is growing that Gaza's Christians will disappear|date=October 10, 2023|publisher=Vatican News}}</ref>
== Hostilities in late 2008-present ==
Terrorists are still attacking Israel from the Gaza strip with missiles. In response to this, Israel is bombarding the strip in order to prevent more threats to its population on the border. On January 3, 2009 Israel has started a ground campaign in Gaza. It was preceded by an artillery barrage to soften the border so Israeli troops could cross safer. The campaign was against Hamas targets and Israel never had any plans to reoccupy the land. Hamas, rather than stop firing rockets into Gaza has begun sabre rattling and stated that they will kidnap and kill invading Israeli soldiers and cause mental illness from the horrors they will bring them. They have also stated that they will begin suicide attacks again.[https://www.onenewsnow.com/Headlines/Default.aspx?id=372854]
==Today==
See related:
*[[Israel_Apartheid_slur#Current_racist_Arab-Palestine_and_in_the_region|Current racist Arab-Palestine]]
==Christians in Gaza Strip==
[[File:Orthodox Christians in Gaza Strip.jpg|thumbnail|Greek [[Orthodox Christian|Orthodox Christians]] in the Gaza Strip.]]
The Arab Palestinians are roughly 94% Muslim. 89% of Christians in Gaza are Greek Orthodox while 9.3% are Catholic and 1.52% belongs to other denominations.<ref name=GreekReporter>{{cite web|url=https://greekreporter.com/2014/08/11/struggling-christian-minority-in-gaza/|title=Struggling Christian Minority In Gaza|date=August 11, 2014|publisher=Greek Reporter}}</ref>
The Gaza Strip is currently under the control of [[Hamas]], an Islamic terrorist organization. Christians face persecution and pressure to convert and have next to no rights.<ref>http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/palestinian_territories.php</ref>
There are three churches in Gaza: Catholic, Greek Orthodox, the Near East Council of Churches, Myrrh Bearers Society, the Orthodox Council of Churches and Baptist. Also the Ahli Arab Hospital is Christian.<ref name=GreekReporter/>
<ref>http://www.worldmag.com/2010/04/tested_by_fire</ref><ref>http://www.explorecorps.org/Reports_From_The_Field/Entries/2009/2/15_Gazas_Church_of_Saint_Porphyrius.html</ref>
<ref>http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=25263</ref>
At least since 2012, Gaza Christians sense pressure to convert to Islam
<ref>Nidal al-Mughrabi, "[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-palestinians-christians-conversion-idUSBRE86P0J420120726 Gaza Christians sense pressure to convert to Islam]", Reuters, July 26, 2012</ref>
2019 report cited "Islamic oppression" as the main source of persecution at Christian small minority of Arab Palestinians.<ref name=jp25dec2019>[https://www.jpost.com/opinion/the-christian-crisis-612032 A Christian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank], The Jerusalem Post, Dec 25, 2019.
<br><i>
In the Gaza Strip, the Christian population has plummeted from about 3,000 a decade ago to an estimated 1,000 today, most of them Greek Orthodox.
</i>
<blockquote> ...
“Though the Christians in the PA avoid saying so publicly, many of them fear – with good reason – that Muslim aggression against them will only escalate,” wrote Edy Cohen, a researcher at the center. “Such fears are all the stronger in light of the thunderous silence of the Western [and Israeli] media, in the face of the Christian minority’s ongoing disappearance from the PA and Islamic lands in general.”
He added, pointedly, that “the ongoing international neglect of the plight of the Christians under PA rule can only lead to the vanishing of Christianity from the place where it emerged.”
In the Gaza Strip, the Christian population has plummeted from about 3,000 a decade ago to an estimated 1,000 today, most of them Greek Orthodox...
The situation of Christians in Bethlehem has deteriorated dramatically in the last century, and especially since the PA took control of the city in 1995. In 1947, Christians comprised about 85% of the city’s population, but that figure had plunged to 16% by 2016, and is estimated since then.
Bethlehem’s mayor at the time said that, “Due to the stress – either physical or psychological – and the bad economic situation, many people are emigrating: either Christians or Muslims, but it is more apparent among Christians because they already are a minority.”
A study by the Pew Research Center found that the decline in the Arab Christian population was both a result of a lower birth rate among Christians compared to Muslims and the fact that Christians were more likely to emigrate than any other religious group. A statistical analysis of the Christian exodus cited a lack of economic and educational opportunities among a community known for its middle-class status and higher education.</blockquote/></ref>
Since the 2007 Israel blockade of Gaza, Christians have not being able to visit Holy Sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, having the same struggle as other Gaza inhabitants. This has led many to hold extreme positions "which does not differentiate between race and religion", warns a report from the Young Men’s Christian Association.<ref name=GreekReporter/>
Palestinian Christians in Gaza fear for the future of their tiny community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/gaza-christians-fear-for-future-of-tiny-community|title=Gaza Christians fear for future of tiny community|date=July 25, 2012|publisher=Fox News}}</ref> This sentiment of fear of disappearing grew after the Israel-Gaza War that started in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-10/interview-with-custos-of-the-holy-land-fr-francesco-patton-ofm.html|title=Holy Land Custos: Fear is growing that Gaza's Christians will disappear|date=October 10, 2023|publisher=Vatican News}}</ref>
==Bigotry==