The plight of Christian living in Gaza under the Palestinian authority continues to worsen. According to a new Arabic language report, recent years have “witnessed a critical upsurge against the Christians,” who only amount to approximately 2,500 people—surrounded by approximately 1.5 million Muslims. Local authorities have abandoned the tiny minority to Islamist elements who have “placed great and continuous pressure” on the Christians.
“At times we hear of the bombing of a Christian bookshop and assaults on churches and other Christian institutions; other times we hear of the kidnapping of Christians and the coercion of them to embrace the religion of Muhammad,” says the report.
In mid October, Christians in Gaza led a protest, calling for the return of their kidnapped children and loved ones. They held up signs saying “I am a Christian and boast of my cross.” Bishop Alexios of the region “confirmed that the Christians who converted to Islam did so under threats, coercion, compulsion, and force.” His church also submitted a formal petition to the governor of the region, Ismail Haniyeh, calling on him to investigate matters, but received no response.
The report adds that Gaza’s Christians are calling on the Christian world to intervene. The bishop said that he is trying to communicate all of this to the Vatican, the United Nations, and the United States.

Bill says
Don’t worry, Pope Francis and his Vatican brain trust will be all over this one.
John Kyndesen says
As soon as he manages to stop kissing islamist feet and getting islamist boots off his neck. The Bishop of Rome is gone.
Stephanie says
9:30 ‘… may Allah destory 8:17, 9:14 them’
https://twitter.com/schnellmann_org/status/794099467196764162
Dom107 says
We should really insist that Christians and other religions in Muslim countries be given the same rights as Muslims in free countries. Pressure at the highest level ie Government and religious authorities such as the Vatican should do their duty here instead of pandering to the Muslims and ignoring the suffering of other religions and indeed that of atheists and secularists.
Infidel lives matter says
“The report adds that Gaza’s Christians are calling on the Christian world to intervene. The bishop said that he is trying to communicate all of this to the Vatican, the United Nations, and the United States.”
Fat chance of that.
Kay says
Yes, I understand the discouragement, and I share it.
But could we all try one more time? Each of us contact your own clergy? Each of us write your own congressmen? Each of us donate just a little to Open Doors or International Christian Concern? Just one more time?
Ed Lee says
Kay, have you tried writing to your congressman about this? I have written to my congressman, both my senators and the president, several times. I have received no reply from any of them. We have been sold down the river.
Kay says
Yes, I’ve written to them several times (but perhaps more about my concerns about “immigration”.) I get replies–unsatisfactory but polite. It’s discouraging. They have amazing “political” responses.
But sometimes they’ve referred to their value in the freedom of religion. So I’ll refer back to that when I write them this time. It’s hard to understand how the plight of Christians worldwide is relatively unknown here in the US.
I’ll try again . . . just because. Maybe there will eventually be a tipping point. I know there are at least a few concerned congressmen– one Smith that I heard on the radio briefly. I’m not sure which state he’s from.
I live in a solidly “blue” state; 9 of 10 are predicted to vote for Hillary. So it’s actually a kind of respite to read on JW.
joe says
Pray Trump wins… our LAST hope
Jaladhi says
This is the story of Islam – converting people to Islam under the sword on their neck. Nobody, nobody will convert to Islam on their own unless he is totally braindead. The present day Muslims are doing what their ancestors did for last 1400 years – force, intimidation, threat and murder – that is how Islam is the “fastest” growing religion in the world. When will the present day Western leaders admit this truth and face Islam will all their might all we all succumb to Islam!
Moh Suleiman says
You biggest lier, no Muslim will force others to be a Muslim!?
No one hold a swords now a day, but the advantage of net community telling the truth for blinds people of others religion….so, truth can’t be covered now.
That is the main reason of converting to pace religions…
gravenimage says
The vile Moh Suleiman wrote:
You biggest lier (sic), no Muslim will force others to be a Muslim!?
No one hold a swords (sic) now a day (sic), but the advantage of net community telling the truth for blinds (sic) people of others (sic) religion….so, truth can’t be covered now.
That is the main reason of converting to pace (sic) religions…
…………………………….
Is this vicious Mohammedan pretending that bombings and kidnapping do not constitute force?
This is, in fact, *very* common–Muslims kidnap a Christian or other Infidel, and rape her and threaten to kill her family and neighbors if she does not convert. Here is one such story, where the victim was brave enough to resist:
“The purpose of kidnapping me was to force me to enter into Islam”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/the-purpose-of-kidnapping-me-was-to-force-me-to-enter-into-islam
There are thousands more stories like this.
This happens Infidels all over the world–including the recent mass-kidnapping of school girls in Nigeria. How can the appalling Moh Suleiman condone such savagery? Only because Islam calls for it.
Of those who voluntarily convert to this barbaric creed, the largest number in the West are violent felons in prison–which should surprise no one.
Krae says
Muslim lies. They are taught just that, thru the writing of the Koran
elisheva says
The Christians are being decimated all over the Middle East. The Palestinian Authority lost the election to Hamas in June 2007. We need to save ourselves first from the UN and the radical liberals who want to Islamize the West. Our US Universities are being used for Islamic Propaganda. Soon we will all be forced to convert if things don’t change.
tom thumb says
you may convert but for me- better to loose my life for Christ than to try and save it..
chanah says
and who do they blame, Israel for their odeal, GOD forbid they should blame muslims
Godwin says
Israel should take in these 2,500 Christians as an act of goodwill.Or It just let it be to show how evil is Hamas. Meanwhile, where is Jesus in all these persecution of Christians in the ME n other parts of the world. Look like he was only a hero in the bible stories.
roxy says
Actually, these Christians hate Israel. Even though Muslims are slaughtering Christians all over the planet, accepting the genocide is apparently preferable to acknowledging that Israel isn’t so bad.
We tend to think of Christians being like us and readers of this site, but most (obviously not all) are more the Rev Jeremiah Wright than John Hagee or Robert Jeffress.
Kay says
Why do you say this Roxy? Can you cite some source?
Janet O'Leary says
I didn’t know that the Christians in Gaza hate Israel. Are you sure? If they believe the Bible, they won’t. “He that blesses Israel will be blessed”. Why would they believe the talk and blame Israel, too?
roxy says
Actually, these Christians hate Israel. Even though Muslims are slaughtering Christians all over the planet, accepting the genocide is apparently preferable to acknowledging that Israel isn’t so bad.
We tend to think of Christians being like us and readers of this site, but most (obviously not all) of the Christians from the Mid East are more the Rev Jeremiah Wright than John Hagee or Robert Jeffress.
Angemon says
Good luck to get them to interfere in the internal matters of a “nation”…
Dennis says
Possibly, with Israel/Palestinian matter worsening, it will take a few more bombs fired at Israel. Then perhaps Israel will rightfully reclaim Gaza, punish the leaders and grant religious protection to Gaza’s small Christian community. Can’t the Christian churches see that life under the Israelis is superior to that under the Muslims? Even though Christian persecution of the Jews by the Christian churches was rampant in most pre-reformation as well as post reformation periods, the Jews will protect the persecuted Christians!
roxy says
Actually, these Christians hate Israel. Even though Muslims are slaughtering Christians all over the planet, accepting the genocide is apparently preferable to acknowledging that Israel isn’t so bad.
We tend to think of Mid East Christians being like us and readers of this site, but most (obviously not all) are more the Rev Jeremiah Wright than John Hagee or Robert Jeffress.
Angemon says
That’s very likely the case. Even at the peak of pan-arabism (i.e., before the islamic revolutions and ethnic/religious fracture lines that plague the ME today), Israel was the escape goat of any failure.
Kay says
I don’t believe it Roxy. What source can you cite?
roxy says
I’ve had encounters with many Christians from the Mid East in Southern California and most (not all, e.g. Brigitte Gabriel, Father Gabriel Nadaf) share nearly the same world view as the Muslims and that includes liking 0bama and hating Israel, Jews and conservative, Republican Christians.
Ted Cruz Booed Off Stage by M.E. Christians:
http://www1.cbn.com/thebrodyfile-276
Ralph Nader
John & James Zogby
Remember, 0bama’s nasty pal, Jeremiah Wright is also a Christian. We forget that and think that Christian means people like us, but there are some who embrace a very different world view.
gravenimage says
Sadly, many dhimmis *have* adopted Muslim hatreds. Brigitte Gabriel–a Christian who grew up in Lebanon–writes that she was brought up to hate and fear Jews. That changed for her after Israeli doctors saved her mother’s life after they were shelled by Muslims.
roxy says
Yes, I am familiar with her and I’ve read her books.
gravenimage says
Yes–Brigitte Gabriel is wonderful. Here is my tribute to her in my “Heroes Against Jihad” series:
http://s478.photobucket.com/user/gravenimageartist/media/JWHBG.jpg.html
Crusades Were Right! says
I nvasions
S lavery
L ies
A bductions
M urder
Rob says
Don’t worry, the next general election in Gaza will fix all that.
Manny says
This is sick. It’s a sick religion. It’s demonic.
Michael Johnson says
Christians from the west should help their fellow Christians they should not be allowed to suffer at the hands of Islam
gravenimage says
Gaza: Christians continue to be forced to convert to Islam
…………………….
More Muslim persecution. There are just a remnant of Christians surviving in Gaza now.
Baucent says
Slight correction needed, Gaza is under the control of Hamas not the Palestinian Authority. However it’s as bad in the PA controlled territory. For example 30 or 40 years ago Bethlehem was a Christian majority town. Now there are few Christians living at the birthplace of Jesus. In fact it is probable that in only a few more years there will be none other than the priests who run the Church of the Nativity, who the PA need for political photo ops.