A senior delegation from Hamas visited the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City on Monday and congratulated Palestinian Christians on the advent of Easter. 

The delegation was received by Greek Orthodox Archbishop Alexios, along with a number of church leaders and Christian figures.
Heading the delegation, Basem Naim, head of Hamas' Political Division in Gaza, voiced solidarity with Palestinian Christians amid the ongoing Israeli assaults on Jerusalem and Muslim and Christian holy sites. 

"We've come today as representatives for Hamas with its components and institutions to pay a visit to our Christian brothers in order to convey a message of appreciation and partnership towards our brothers at home," Naim said. 

Naim reaffirmed the necessity of unity of all Palestinian sects in the face of the Israeli continuing assaults and abuses against Jerusalem and Palestinian sacred sites.   
  
Expressing his appreciation of his movement's historic relationship with Palestinian Christians, Naim called for unifying efforts to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.  

Naim, meanwhile, condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Al-Aqsa Mosque as a blatant violation of international law.    

The Hamas official also urged all Palestinians everywhere to fend off Israeli violations and protect all of their holy sites.
 
For his part, Archbishop Alexios expressed his thanks and appreciation for the visit to the church, hailing Hamas for its prominent role towards Palestinian national matters. 

He affirmed that Palestinian Muslims and Christians are united in the face of the Israeli occupation and its relentless assaults against the Palestinian people, including its 15-year crippling siege on Gaza, its violations at the Al-Aqsa compound, and its harassment of Palestinians.