Christian school, church destroyed in Gaza

GAZA, June 18 (UPI) -- A Catholic priest in Gaza Monday said Christians need protection from escalating attacks by Muslim extremists.

The Rev. Manual Musalam's appeal came after attacks on the Rosary Sisters School and the Latin Church in Gaza, The Jerusalem Post reported.

"The masked gunmen used rocket-propelled grenades to storm the main entrances of the school and church," he told the Post. "Then they destroyed almost everything inside, including the Cross, the Holy Book, computers and other equipment."

Musalam, who leads a small Latin community in Gaza said: "Christians have been living in peace and security with Muslims for many years, but those who attacked us are trying to sabotage this relationship," the Post reported.

Musalam said Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called him Sunday to condemn the attack.

While Fatah officials blamed the attack on Hamas, a Hamas spokesman denied the group was responsible, the Post reported.