South China Morning Post | 26 Jan, 2020
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh has called on Christians around the world to oppose the Trump administration’s “deal of the century”, saying the proposal intended to solve the Israel-Palestine issue would end any hope of a two-state solution.
Haniyeh, speaking at a closed-door meeting with NGOs in Malaysia’s administrative capital of Putrajaya on Saturday, said Christians were as much victims of Israeli policies as Muslims and were equally fervent in their opposition to the occupation.
“Israeli aggression is not only against the Muslims but many Christians in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jerusalem and elsewhere in the Palestinian diaspora are suffering,” Haniyeh told South China Morning Post.
“The Christians in Palestine are together with all other Palestinians and they are among the those whose rights have been abused.
“I was in jail with a Christian activist and Christians have been very vocal in their opposition to Israel’s illegal occupation. So I call on the Christians around the world to see what is happening and oppose any so-called deal of the century between the Americans and [the Benjamin]] Netanyahu [government].”
In December, Israel refused permission for Palestinian Christians living in Gaza to enter religious sites such as Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth during Christmas.
