Gaza's Christian minority facing a tense Christmas
(21 Dec 2007) December 16, 2007 1. Exterior of church 2. Shot of Holy See flag and Palestinian flag at church 3. Wide of church service 4. Christmas tree in the church 5. Nun singing hymn 6. Man holding baby 7. Close-up of baby 8. Statue of the virgin Mary holding baby Jesus 9. Women singing 10. Men standing during prayer 11. Various of Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah conducting service 12. Sabbah leaving church 13. SOUNDBITE: (English) Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarch: "We say to those who think that they must kill us: 'you have not to kill us, your religion does not say to kill us, so try to reconsider your own religion, your own Islam and see what is written, what orders you Islam'. Islam tells you also to love everyone. So it tells you, you love everyone, you love Christians. If you want to kill us, to make us martyrs - we are ready, we will go to heaven." December 20, 2007 14. Pictures of Rami Khader Ayyad, a prominent Palestinian Christian activist killed by Hamas in October 2007 next to statuette of the Virgin Mary 15. Close-up on photo of Ayyad 16. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Anisa Ayyad, mother of Rami Khader Ayyad: "Every holiday we would gather together with all the children to celebrate and enjoy. On New Year's eve, the whole family - the parents, the boys and girls and their children - everyone would come together. But this year, we do not have the Christmas spirit." (pause as Ayyad is visibly upset) "How can we celebrate when his children and his wife are not with us? He is a martyr of our religion and Jesus. What kind of celebrations will they be?" 17. Picture of Ayyad hanging on the wall next to cross, tilt down to mother 18. Madlen Ayyad, sister-in-law of Rami Khader, sitting in living room 19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Madlen Ayyad, sister-in-law of Rami Khader Ayyad: "Now we are afraid. If we have a chance to leave our home, our world, our friends, and leave that country, we are ready to leave that country, because no place for us here, and we need help from other countries to leave here." FILE: October 7, 2007 20. Coffin of Rami Khader Ayyad, a Palestinian Christian activist killed by Hamas gunman 21. Shot of body in open coffin 22. People crying over body 23. Man crying 24. Shot of burial ceremony FILE: June 18, 2007 25. Various of Christian school burnt during Hamas takeover of Gaza Strip 26. Broken cross 27. Damaged bible 28. Various of damaged school STORYLINE: Members of Gaza's minority Christian population say they are facing a difficult Christmas this year, following this summer's violent takeover of the region by the militant Islamic group Hamas. As a community of around 3,000 Christians living amongst 1.4 million Muslims, some say life is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. In June 2007, when Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, the insecurity felt by the small community grew. It reached a peak when a prominent Christian activist, Rami Khader Ayyad, was killed in a Gaza street in October of this year. His wife and children have since left for the United States, but his mother and many other relatives remain in the Gaza Strip and say they are not looking forward to the upcoming holiday season. "How can we celebrate when his children and his wife are not with us?" cries Anisa, his mother. "What kind of celebrations will they be?" Madlen, Rami's sister-in-law, adds: "Now we are afraid. If we have a chance to leave our home, our world, our friends, and leave that country, we are ready to leave that country, because no place for us here and we need help from other countries to leave here." Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
