Gaza is not actually suffering through a “humanitarian ordeal.” Hamas has plenty of money, and spent it on rockets to fire at Israeli civilians. If any citizens of Gaza are going hungry, it’s because that was what Hamas chose to do with the aid money that is showered on Gaza.
Pope Tawadros is applauding this because he may have actually internalized Islamic priorities and perspectives as his own, or because he fears what might happen if he didn’t applaud it. In either case, he is acting a dhimmi, a non-Muslim under the hegemony under Islamic law. The dhimmi must not complain or criticize Islam or Muslims in any way; if he does, his “contract of protection” could be revoked, and he could be killed. The way Pope Tawadros is acting here is the way dhimmis have gotten along in Muslim countries for centuries. Many, when they emigrate to the West, have brought this mentality of subservience with them.
“Bishops Back Egypt’s Alms for Hamas’ Arms,” by Jules Gomes, ChurchMilitant.com, May 21, 2021:
CAIRO (ChurchMilitant.com) – Egypt’s Catholic and Coptic prelates are giving their blessing to a $500 million contribution to Hamas, despite evidence that the jihadist organization uses charitable donations to fund terrorism, suicide bombers and rocket attacks against Israel.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a devout Muslim, announced Tuesday that his country would send half a billion dollars to support the reconstruction of Gaza following Hamas’ recent conflict with Israel.
Coptic Orthodox Church’s Pope Tawadros II immediately issued a statement praising the initiative as a gesture of concrete support for the “Palestinian brothers, in the humanitarian ordeal they are undergoing” given Egypt’s “historic role” in supporting the Arab people.
The Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, presided over by Coptic Catholic Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac Sidrak, also published a statement lauding al-Sisi’s gift “to support our Palestinian brothers.”
Donations Fund Terror
“It is sad to see Pope Tawadros endorsing the financing of Hamas, which is what money for the ‘reconstruction of Gaza’ will go to in reality,” eminent Islamic historian Robert Spencer told Church Militant, explaining Tawadros’ “refusal to endorse this funding could result in a new round of the persecution of Christians in Egypt.”
Spencer, author of 21 books on Islam and the Middle East, elaborated:
Pope Francis also has never condemned Hamas, and this causes further confusion among Roman Catholics as to how the conflict should be morally evaluated. Pope Francis may be keeping quiet for the same reason that Pope Tawadros is speaking — fear of Islamic reprisals. But this only encourages more jihad violence against Christians in the long run, as the jihadis see that it works.
Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayyeb — Pope Francis’ chief Muslim dialogue partner and co-signatory to the pontiff’s Human Fraternity concordat with Islam — also hailed Egypt’s dole for “reflecting the Palestinian cause as a priority for Egyptians and Arabs.”
“It is also an affirmation of Egypt’s support of the legitimate and fair Palestinian cause, and the Palestinians’ rights in establishing an independent state with Jerusalem as the capital,” al-Tayyeb emphasized.
However, Ambassador Dennis Ross, a peace negotiator between Israel and the Palestinians for at least four U.S. presidents, insists that donors “need to put Hamas in a position where they have to choose between their rockets and the well-being of Gaza.”
“The issue is massive reconstruction for no rockets,” Ross said. “And the minute you see irregularities, everything stops.”
Ross noted the failure of earlier efforts to rebuild Gaza. Any future monitoring system would need to be an effective, round-the-clock endeavor that would halt reconstruction if Hamas was found to be storing, building or preparing to launch rockets, he maintained.
The Trump administration stopped funding aid for Gaza through the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in 2018, but Biden restored it in April, just before the conflict began.
‘Too Close’ to Hamas?
Multiple sources on the ground told Church Militant that the Egyptian prelates had “bowed to Islam as dhimmis” [literally “protected persons subject to Muslim hegemony”] and were content “to roar like lions against Israel and purr like pussycats while petted by Hamas.”
While Egypt’s ecclesiastical hierarchy continues to denounce Israel, it has tacitly endorsed Gaza’s rulers even though Hamas’ (Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya) own declarations explicitly identify it as a jihadist outfit committed to the destruction of Israel, sources added.
Vittorio Emanuele Parsi, professor of international relations at Italy’s Sacred Heart Catholic University, notes the failure of prelates like Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Michel Sabbah to condemn terrorism because they are too close to Hamas.
Coptic Pope Cyril VI even banned Egyptian Christians from going on pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1967 and the current incumbent Pope Tawadros II has upheld the ban while not enforcing it. Violators were often denied Communion and at times threatened with excommunication.
“The position of the Church remains unchanged, which is not going to Jerusalem without all our Egyptian (Muslim) brothers,” Church spokesman Boulos Halim said, responding to Pope Tawadros II breaking the ban to attend a funeral in Jerusalem in 2015….
JCA Reid says
Is this the same guy, the Leader of the Egyptian Christian Coptic Church? Not so long ago Muslims upped the contract to kill him from $6 Million to 16. I think the reason Religionists of ALL Faiths “stick together”, is that they know they’re talking BS & all this “Religion” is just a business.
gravenimage says
JCA, this is not because religion is a “business”.
This is classic dhimmitude–Infidels (not just Christians, but *any* non-Muslims) praising their Muslim overlords in the often vain hope that they will not be targeted for violence.
Rob Porter says
JCA – You are talking utter rubbish. All “ALL Faiths” do not “stick together”, neither do all of them ‘talk’ BS, but in the BS department you are doing a pretty good job.
Giacomo Latta says
And yet where I live religious groups go out of their way to make sure their special tax status goes untouched, even to the point that they ignore brazenly all provincial and municipal statutes on residential residential areas while simultaneously being free of paying for services that do not involve reach onto their land. And this for a group whose leader spends his time in Panama because he doesn’t like Canadian winters.
Furthermore, some Jewish groups only concern themselves with individuals who talk about killing Jews. Does the koran mandate it? You bet, but you won’t hear a peep about shutting down a mosque.
somehistory says
It’s the UNChristian thing to do…and the other pope does it…the previous pope in egypt did it…so why not now?
“Do not be having a sharing with demons” is not a Scripture that they apply to themselves.
They can ignore what Jesus Christ said about not giving what is “holy” to dogs or throwing “pearls before swine.” They think the “turn around and rip you open” was just hyperbole, or they don’t even read it, in order to think anything. Much less be obedient to Christ.
CogitoErgoSum says
Yes, and I am tempted to say that this prelate mistakes dogs for his brothers but, no, they are human beings, though still not his brothers. They could be his brothers if they wished it to be so … but they do not. He needs to keep that in mind.
somehistory says
Jesus identified “His brothers” and thus, the Christians’ brothers. He made it clear who these ones are. He certainly didn’t say it was every human.
As as you point out, “he (the “prelate”) needs to keep that in mind.”
CogitoErgoSum says
Yes, Jesus indicated that some belong to their father the devil who was a liar and a murderer from the beginning. Christians renounce Satan at baptism and so are reborn and thereby become brothers (and sisters) in a new family. Though a Muslim may be my neighbor I will call “brother” only those who are in my family.
somehistory says
+100
Mauricio says
How disturbing; I’m feeling nauseous right now. These Christian leaders seem more like blind guides. The Coptic pope, the Roman pope, the Jerusalem Patriarch… How difficult to keep one’s faith this way.
Boycott Turkey says
This is awful this Coptic pope is a traitor and terrorist supporter his supporting terrorist who oppress Christians and Jews does he know that Hamas discriminates against Palestinian Christians also Hamas congratulated Erdogan when he Turned Agia Sophia to a mosque its because of Christian leaders like him and the pope that Christians keep getting oppressed around the world
Keith O says
$500 million, that should refurbish the Hamas armories and resupply them with more up to date rockets to fire from civilian areas.
They might even have a bit left over for some aid to the civilians in Gaza.
gravenimage says
Coptic Pope Tawadros praises Egypt’s gift of $500,000,000 to Hamas ‘in the humanitarian ordeal they are undergoing’
…………….
The only real ordeal Hamas is undergoing is not having been able to destroy Israel. Oh, the humanity!
mortimer says
It appears that the Coptic Orthodox Church’s Pope Tawadros has been THREATENED into giving this speech. I believe it is part of a deal to help to protect his people. He must endorse the terrorists or they will murder Coptic Christians.
James Lincoln says
Kinda sounds like a “Hobson’s choice”, mortimer.
Tony Naim says
Dhimmitude is not choice. It is a discriminatory legal system of apartheid imposed by majority Muslims on Christians and Jews.
The million dollar question :what is the American government doing to abolish Dhimmitude. An institutionalized instrument of prejudice that undermines US national security. The illuminated Robert Spencer shifts the blame on the Coptic Pope (and the Catholic Pope ).
Isn’t the American government responsible for the perpetuation of this evil before anyone else?
gravenimage says
There is no doubt that dhimmis are under enormous pressure–and they can seldom speak out. But in most cases they can at least avoid preaching evil.
Andrew Blackadder says
The Pope is living behind a massive Wall which surrounds the Vatican, that was built centuries ago to prevent islamic warriors from invading his personal space, and now today, such a Pope wants even more muslims to enter Europe, just not to sleep beside him, though he may like the wee boys, but while he kisses and washes the feet of muslims in an act of being conquered by this new Fascist Religious Cult, even though he appears to be totally unaware of that fact, he does seems to think he is doing good when in fact he is adding to the demise of not only Europe, but the rest of the Western World, because even today, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,UAE,Qatar,Morocco and many other islamic Nations, have taken exactly ZERO African, Syrian, Afghani, Iraqi etc “refugees” into their country, and in fact Malaysia sends Bengali muslims back to Burma when they arrive on wee boats off the coast of Malaysia, they hand them some water and food and push them back out too Sea… rightly so, and I wish the UK, Italy,Greece,Spain, would do the exact same thing. If the people of the Western World are seen as such evil racist people by a certain class and religion of people, then why the hell are they trying so hard to get into our countries…This is a question I cannot get answered in any satisfying manner.
gravenimage says
Different pope, Andrew.
Oscar says
There should be mandatory rule have a democratically elected Govt. in Palestine, before US and Europe pump in money to them.
It is waste of money,, goest towards making missiles, and lavish life for terrorists.
gravenimage says
They’d probably still elect Jihad terrorists.
Maged says
Stockholm Syndrome.
commonsense says
Over $1 billion in U.S. foreign aid has been earmarked for Egypt for 2021-2022. Egypt has already received over $84 billion in U.S. foreign aid since 1946. This money, as we know, is fungible. Egypt is now taking the liberty of using our largesse – half a billion worth – to fund HAMAS. Evidently, Egypt is less in need of U.S. aid than we think. The real beneficiary, however, is Iran, as it will need to spend less on helping HAMAS – controlled Gaza, freeing up funds for weapons (nuclear and conventional) development. Iran will also benefit from the decision by the clueless unelected lout currently occupying the White House, with his pledge to help rebuild Gaza and remove Trump-imposed sanctions on Tehran. More bakhsheesh freed up for the Mullahs to wreak havoc. But Egypt should know better than to indirectly further empower its Shi’ite enemy…hoisted by its own petard, it would seem.
E Maria Villasenor says
Giving in to these Terrorists groups and Regimes that support them are only being appeased for awhile. As they become more and more emboldened under the Illegitimate Biden Regime, they will begin to kill more and more Christians in the Middle East.
The terrorists will not be appeased until they annihilate the Jews and the Christians and that’s when the illegitimate Biden Regime will then start World War III.
This by the way, will also happen in America because their plan is for ‘World Domination just like Islam wants ‘World Domination’ under Sharia. So, only one can be in power; either Communism or Islam. At one point they will turn against each other. That’s my theory…….