Hamas leader mourns deaths of Palestinian Christian women in Gaza

Hamas political bureau chief Khalil al-Hayya has offered condolences to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem in Gaza over the deaths of two Palestinian women, Maysaa Khedr Ibrahim Abu Daoud, known as Umm Michel, and her daughter, Mary Hafez Michel al-Najjar, known as Umm Fouad, who were killed after an Israeli attack hit their flat in Gaza City early on Saturday.

In a message to Bishop Alexios received by Quds Press on Sunday, al-Hayya expressed solidarity with the families of the two women and with Christians in Gaza and Palestine, saying the loss affected all Palestinians.

“Your grief is our grief, and your pain is our pain. All Palestinians are family and partners in the land, homeland and destiny,” he said.

He added that “Palestinian suffering in Gaza today is one and does not distinguish between Muslims and Christians”, just as Israeli attacks “do not distinguish between a mosque and a church”.

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Al-Hayya said the Palestinian people, in all their diversity, would remain committed to their land, rights and aspirations for freedom and dignity.

He said the deaths of Umm Michel and Umm Fouad, who had lived through Gaza’s hardship alongside their fellow Palestinians, sharing their hunger and suffering and serving their community, had caused deep sorrow.

He prayed that their families would be granted patience and peace, and that the people of Gaza and Palestine would be protected, their suffering brought to an end, and Palestinians granted security, freedom and peace.

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