Hamas asks UNESCO to reject Israeli moves against Nativity Church

Hamas urged the UNESCO-affiliated World Heritage Committee not to heed Israeli attempts not to include the Church of Nativity on the list of international heritage under the name of Palestine.

Hamas, in a press release on Thursday, said that Israel was trying to wipe out Islamic and Christian land marks in occupied Jerusalem and to isolate the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem with its racist, separation wall.

The Israeli violations should be rejected by UNESCO, and the Church of Nativity should be listed as Palestinian heritage, Hamas said.

It called on UNESCO member countries to foil the Israeli attempt in their upcoming meeting in Russia and to pressure Israel into stopping further violations of the international heritage in occupied Palestine.