Gaza City’s small Christian community appealed on Monday to the international community for protection against attacks from Muslims. A church and school complex was attacked and much of it destroyed recently, causing what church leaders estimated to be $500,000 worth of damage. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called the church’s leader to express his outrage and promise that he would work to put a stop to the attacks.

The church’s leader also lamented that forces of extremism were trying to undermine the peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Gaza City which has lasted for many years. Jews and Muslims got along in Gaza City for centuries, until its Jewish residents either were killed or fled during the Arab riots of 1929.