Mideast church official calls Gaza Strip 'volcano' ready to erupt

Published: 2004-07-21

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The mayhem enveloping the Gaza Strip is a "volcano" that can erupt at any moment and will affect the entire region, said an official with the Middle East Council of Churches. "The people have been patient, waiting, but a volcano will all of a sudden erupt, and when this happens there will be bloodshed everywhere," said Constantine Dabbagh, the council's Gaza representative. Dabbagh and another Palestinian church worker said the current situation is the result of corruption within the Palestinian National Authority, exacerbated by Israeli occupation of the Gaza Strip. The chaotic situation in Gaza began July 16 after two Palestinian security officials were kidnapped in two separate incidents by militants demanding their removal on corruption charges. Five French civilians also were kidnapped. The militants demanded that one of those kidnapped, Gaza Police Chief Ghazi Jibali, be relieved of his duties. Kidnappers said they were taking matters into their own hands since Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had not dealt with the issue. All the hostages were released unharmed, but calm has not returned to the Gaza Strip.

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