A school and convent belonging to the Gaza Strip's tiny Roman Catholic community were ransacked and burned, the head of the community said today.
Crosses were broken, a statue of Jesus was damaged, and prayer books were burnt at the Rosary Sisters School and nearby convent during clashes around a major security headquarters, said Fr Manuel Musallem, head of Gaza's Latin church.
The damage took place on Thursday, but wasn't reported until days later due to the confusion since Islamic Hamas militants wrested power in Gaza, he said. The religious compound is near a key security headquarters Hamas captured Thursday on the final day of its Gaza takeover.
Gunmen used the roof of the school during the fighting, and the convent was "desecrated," Fr Mussalem said. "Nothing happens by mistake these days," he said.
Seven computers were removed, although three were brought back after the vandalism was reported to the deposed prime minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh.
Mr Haniyeh condemned the attack on the religious compound and President Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah movement said in statement late Sunday that the "barbaric" attack was the act of Hamas's militia.
"There may be some in Hamas who wanted to cause strife between Muslims and Christians," Fr Musallem said.
Hamas denied it was involved in the vandalism.
Earlier this month, Pope Benedict XVI lamented the plight of Christians in the Middle East and said he was praying that the ancient communities remain despite the "apparently unstoppable violence."
AP