Bombed Gaza Christian Bookstore Vows to Re-Open
The Christian bookstore in Gaza that was bombed Sunday announced that it is committed to reopening its doors after the early-morning explosion left serious damage to the building.
The Palestinian Bible Society said that its crew was already cleaning up the wreckage as soon as Sunday afternoon after a blast demolished much of the first floor of Gaza's only Christian bookstore, reported the Palestinian Bible Society's executive director Labib Madanat to Open Doors USA.
The blast was described as much worse than the previous attack on the bookstore that occurred on Feb. 3, 2006 when two pipe bombs only destroyed the building's metal outer door and inner glass doors.
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"It is so vital that the Bible Society and all its outreaches continue in that marginalized area," said Dr. Carl Moeller, Open Doors USA president/CEO, in a statement. "Please pray with me that the bookstore will re-open shortly. And those who bombed the facility will be brought to justice."
Moeller had attended the Bible Society's dedication of the building last November; Open Doors has long partnered with the Bible Society in Gaza.
Although no group has yet formally claimed responsibility for the attack, some speculate that a small group called the Sword of Islam is blamed for the blast. The group has claimed responsibility to at least 40 Internet cafes and video shops in the past few months, according to the Gulf Times.
Reports indicate that Sunday's bomb explosion also affected nearby buildings including two internet cafes unaffiliated with the Bible Society.
Sunday's incident began when masked gunmen in two cars pulled up to the bookshop and abducted the attending night guard, according to Open Doors. They drove to a remote location in northern Gaza where the gunmen beat the guard and demanded the bookshop key. When they found the guard did not have the key, they abandoned him and returned to the shop where at 2:30 a.m. the bomb exploded.
Reportedly the blast could be heard as far as three miles away by Christian workers.
Following the attack, Ministry of Culture officials from the Palestinian Authority visited the bookshop on Sunday to affirm the government's support. Officials requested that the Bible Society continue expanding its work in the embattled territory.
Despite the devastation, Bible Society staffs hold no hard feelings towards the culprits. They have publicly stated that they forgive the attackers and intend to continue working through Gaza television.
"There is so much love for the people of Gaza that it will take a huge amount of hate to quench the love the team has," Madanat said. "I don't think there will be enough hate to quench this love."
