"Over the past six months, Israel has not respected the ceasefire and has continued to enter Gaza. Many people died or got injured, many homes were destroyed. Hamas tried its best not to reply." These words are spoken by Father Manuel Musallam, parish priest in Gaza, who tries to explain, in an interview with the SIR (available online on agensir.it), Christmas in Gaza and the end of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. "I know the situation very well as the sons of Hamas members are coming to our school and I can speak with them. Yesterday, they were also present to welcome Patriarch Fuad Twal’s arrival to Gaza. I had invited all the Palestinians, from all political parties. Hamas and Fatah members had already met here a month ago, and now they were back for the Patriarch. It is in moments like this that the Church reunites what politics has scattered." After speaking about the present, Father Musallam takes a look into 2009: "yesterday we started the celebrations for 2009, which is a special year for the capital of the Arab culture Jerusalem. During 2009, we will read the Gospel three times a week in addition to the Sunday Mass." "But above all, we are looking forward to Benedict XVI’s voyage to the Holy Land. This will be an impressive moment that will mark the Muslim world. I wonder if the Pope will be allowed to approach or to enter the Gaza Strip. Should this happen, it would be a cornerstone on the path towards peace and dialogue." ” ” ” ” ” “
