Christian priest calls for Palestinian resistance weapons to be retained

A member of the Christian-Islamic Committee in support of Jerusalem and the Holy Places, Father Manuel Musallam, has called for the Palestinian resistance groups not to give up their weapons, and to retain them until Palestinians receive their full rights and freedom.

Speaking to Shehab news agency, Father Musallam said that the Palestinian people have two demands: the first is national reconciliation among the Palestinian factions to preserve Jerusalem and all holy places, “which is demanded by the various religions and groups and is fundamental.”

The second demand, he added, is to keep the resistance weapons to protect Palestine and the Palestinian people, as well as the Palestinian reconciliation. He described any attempt to remove the weapons as “treachery”.

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, and Fatah signed a reconciliation agreement in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on Thursday. Israel insists on Hamas laying down and surrendering its arms.

Read: Should we bid Hamas farewell?