Settlers storm Church of the Flagellation in Al-Quds, detroy contents
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Settlers attack the Church of the Flagellation in Occupied Al-Quds and try to burn it after destroying its contents. Hamas movement condemns the attack on religious sanctities and holds the occupation responsible.
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The attack at the Church of the Flagellation involved the destruction of sanctities
Extremist Israeli settlers destroyed on Thursday a statue of Christ and the contents of the Church of the Flagellation, in the Old City of Occupied Al-Quds, and tried to set it on fire.
Following the attack, the occupation police issued a statement claiming that "the attacker is an American tourist" and indicated that "he is being examined to see if he is mentally ill."
#شاهد | لحظة تسليم المستوطن الذي أوقفه المقدسي ماجد الرشق بعد اعتدائه على كنيسة "حبس المسيح" ظهر اليوم. pic.twitter.com/hsVC1oT8f4
— فلسطين الآن (@paltimes2015) February 2, 2023
This allegation comes after Majed Al-Rasheq (a Muslim from Al-Quds), who is one of the church's guards, controlled one of the attackers and held him until the police forces arrived.
Activists on social media reported that three settlers stormed the church today, broke and destroyed its contents, and tried to set it on fire and burn it.
For its part, the Hamas movement condemned, in a statement, the crime of the settlers' attack on the church, holding the occupation and its leaders responsible.
"A group of Zionist settlers stormed the Church of the Flagellation, destroyed its contents, and attempted to set it on fire, which is a racist and fascist behavior that violates all divine laws and international covenants," the statement said.
"This crime comes as an extension of the occupation's continuous and systematic crimes against the sanctities, churches, and historical cemeteries, in a restless occupation effort to Judaize Al-Quds and control it, change its identity and displace its people," the statement noted.
Read: 'Israel' infringes on religious freedom, prevents Christian feast
Hamas' statement affirmed the Arab identity of Al-Quds and reiterated the movement's call on the international community and human rights bodies and institutions to "assume their responsibilities, keep the occupation's hands away from Islamic and Christian sanctities, criminalize their violations, and hold them accountable before international courts."
"The extremists' attacks on holy places under the auspices of their fascist government is a consistent and racist approach, and goes back to the constant incitement and racism against divine religions and laws in an effort to start a religious conflict, which repercussions will be reflected in the region," the Chairman of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, said, condemning the Jewish extremists' attack on the chapel.
