GAZA CITY
The Palestinian Hamas movement on Wednesday congratulated Palestinian Christians on the occasion of Orthodox Christmas.
"[Hamas] is sharing the celebration with its Christian brothers to show that there are no differences between Muslims and Christians," leading Hamas member Mousa Abu Marzouq told reporters following a visit to Gaza City's St. Perfirius Church.
"Gaza's Muslims and Christians stand as one in the face of Israeli injustice and aggression," Abu Marzouq said.
"We all seek peace and the liberation of Muslim and Christian holy sites [from Israeli occupation]," he added.
Dozens of Palestinian Christians celebrated Christmas on Wednesday in the Gaza Strip.
Worshippers in Gaza City attended Christmas mass early Wednesday morning at the St. Perfirius Church.
Unofficial figures estimate that 2,000 Christian Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, which is home to some 1.9 million Palestinians.
Some two thirds of Gaza's Christians are Eastern Orthodox who, following the Gregorian calendar, celebrate Christmas on January 7.
The remaining third belong to the Catholic Church.
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