Christians Suffer With Muslims, Says Gaza Priest

"We do not suffer from the Muslims...We suffer with them," a Gaza priest has said.

Father Manuel Musallan, known affectionately by his flock as 'the pope of Gaza', said that Christians in the troubled region live happily alongside the Muslim majority and that both suffer from Israeli policies, reports Middle East Online.

The 68-year-old has been parish priest of the Church of the Saint Family in Gaza City since 1995 and now heads the coastal strip's tiny community of around 200 Catholics.

He admits the job of Gaza's parish priest is to be "first and foremost a man of suffering," having been allowed by the Israeli authorities only twice out of the region - or "open-aired prison" as he calls it.

"It's difficult, but I am not afraid," he smiles, as he sits in his office.

"I obey as a soldier of Christ. A prisoner with my people."

Last year a freeze on direct foreign aid to the Palestinian government came into place after Hamas formed a cabinet in March. Gaza's borders have now been almost completely closed by Israel since it withdrew soldiers and settlers from the area in 2005. Now, Father Musallan blames Europe, America and Israel of isolating Gaza.

"The world in which we live is hard, very unfair," he said. "Europe and America have decided to enclose the Palestinian people. To say that we are dangerous, violent terrorists. They decided, with Israel, to isolate us."

Christians are hugely outnumbered in Gaza. Out of a population of 1.4 million, only 3,000 are Christian.

But Father Musallan insists that this has not led to problematic relations between the Christian and Muslim communities.

"We do not suffer from the Muslims ... We suffer with them. There is no Christian ghetto here."

Other priests in the West Bank consider Father Masullan crazy for choosing to live in the impoverished and troubled region, he admits.

"Those who tell the truth, who find the daring to say to evil 'you are evil', to the wicked 'you are wicked', they are not well regarded. That's why I am not allowed to leave Gaza."

On December 17, Father Musallan was elevated by papal decision to the rank of Monseigneur, an "honorary title to give me a bit of courage," he says, "to keep me here for another four years, as it's not easy to find a priest who will accept to come to Gaza."

He added: "This is my place. God chose me at this moment, for this place, for these people, for these difficulties. I am a man of God. Everything will be fine."