GAZA, Nov 1 (KUNA) -- The Prime Minister of the Hamas-led Palestinian Government in Gaza Strip Ismail Haniyeh said Thursday the Palestinian Muslims and Christians are partners in struggle for liberation and reconstruction.
The close partnership between the two Muslim and Christian communities in Palestine continues to be the mainstay of our citizenship based on our Quranic creed," he said.
Haniyeh made the comments during the funeral of Hosam Al-Taweel, a Christian member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), at Saint Porphyrius Church here.
"Citizenship is a sacred right for everybody whatever their beliefs and creeds might be. We work together as one family for the one and the same aim that is to get liberated from the (Israeli) occupation and establish the state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital," he said.
Paying tribute to the deceased MP, the Hamas leader said: "Brother Al-Taweel used to be a staunch supporter of the resistance against the Israeli occupation in the political sense of the word." "Al-Taweel proved allegiance to our national fundamentals during his work at the PLC committee for the right of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.
"He also used to be a fervent advocate of the national unity and worked hard to end the political divide (between Hamas in Gaza Strip and Fatah movement in the West Bank)," Haniyeh added.
Al-Taweel won a seat at the PLC as an independent candidate from Gaza City in the parliamentary elections of 2006; he passed away on Wednesday morning.
There are some 3,500 mainly Orthodox Christians living in Gaza Strip among a total of 1.5 million people in the Israeli-besieged enclave. (end) mzt.gb KUNA 012107 Nov 12NNNN