Gaza residents receive end of Ramadan help and refuge to pray from Palestinian Christian Church (Saint Porphyrius)

Press Coverage posted from other sources at Yahoo! News: Amidst the bombs, blood, and deaths, the Gaza residents are observing the holy month of Ramadan by praying inside a Christian church. In a display of solidarity, Christians in Gaza City offered shelter to displaced Gazans in the Saint Porphyrius Church courtyard, News from Pakistan reported at its press agency posting. According to the website, the refugees from the war-ridden north Palestinian territory were greeted with "Marhaban" by the Christian community. "The Christians took us in. We thank them for that, for standing by our side," Mahmud Khalaf, a Gaza resident, told the website. Khalaf also told that the Christian community is very cordial and became their 'brothers.' "They let us pray. It's changed my view of Christians. I didn't really know any before, but they've become our brothers," the 27-year-old war refugee told. He also added that it was initially very difficult to pray to Allah inside a church, but they got accustomed to it as the Christians are helping them in prayers and their fasting. "The Christians aren't fasting, but they're deliberately avoiding eating in front of us during the day. They don't smoke or drink around us," Khalaf added. The church has sheltered more than 500 displaced war refugees and has offered them facilities to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan peacefully. More than 800 Palestinians have been killed since the launch of operation 'Protective Edge' in Gaza by Israel. The Hamas has fired more than 2,000 rockets at Israel during the same period killing 34 Israelis, including 32 soldiers, and a Thai worker.