A refurbished 5th-century Christian site in the Gazan city of Jabalia was opened to the public this week. As i24News reports:

The church floor is adorned with what Hamas officials described as “rare” mosaics, including depictions of animals, hunting scenes, and palm trees. Visitors can now gaze at the mosaics from newly built elevated wooden walkways.

Issam al-Daalis, who heads the government works department in Gaza, said the site’s restoration was an example of Hamas’s “embracing” of its “Christian brothers in Gaza.”

But the number of Christians in Gaza has been declining for years, many of them having emigrated, particularly after the Islamist movement Hamas seized power in 2007. According to local church officials, only about 1,000 Christians remain in the enclave, compared to 7,000 before 2007.

The restoration was carried out by the French organization Premiere Urgence Internationale at the cost of almost $250,000. The British Council also supported the work.

After several weeks of passionate political conflict in Israel over judical reform, the tensions seem to be defused, or at least dialed down, for the time being. In light of this, and in anticipation of the Passover holiday soon upon us, Eric Cohen considers the way forward for both the Jewish state and the Jewish people. (Video, 8 minutes. A text is available at the link below.)