Greek Orthodox church in Gaza shelters Muslims fleeing war

[cbayer]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/22/us-palestinians-israel-gaza-church-idUSKBN0FR1O520140722

BY NIDAL AL-MUGHRABI

GAZA Tue Jul 22, 2014 11:16am EDT

(Reuters) - About 1,000 Palestinian Muslims fleeing Israeli shells devastating their Gaza neighborhood have found shelter in a building they otherwise would rarely if ever enter, the city's 12th-century Greek Orthodox Church.

Despite its thick walls dating back to the Crusades, the Church of Saint Porphyrius was still not a very safe haven. Shortly after they arrived, Israeli aircraft bombed a nearby field, spraying shrapnel on the church and damaging graves.

But children from the Shejaia district, where some 72 Palestinians - many of them women and children - were killed during fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas militants on Sunday, were busy playing football in the yard on Tuesday.

Their mothers watched on mattresses and plastic chairs provided by the church, along with food, blankets and toys.

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[Jim__]

1. I hope the church does indeed shelter them from the war.

I fear that it may not.

[cbayer]

2. It's difficult to even imagine what it must be like.

Bless those who lay down the animosity and give each other a hand.