Palestinian sources said the Islamist regime has not arrested suspects in attacks on the estimated 2,500 Christians in the Gaza Strip. They attributed the assaults to either Hamas operatives or their allies.

"Hamas has limited its response to attacks on the Christian community to verbal condemnations," a Palestinian source said. "It has not taken efforts to capture those who have targeted Christians."

The attacks have focused on churches and homes around Gaza City. On Dec. 8, four masked gunmen dressed as Islamic fundamentalists sought to abduct a guard at a church in Gaza City, the second attack since October 2007.

The attempted abduction was foiled by shopkeepers near the church who began shouting. The gunmen fired several shots in the air and drove away in a waiting car.

The sources said the attackers have sought to intimidate Christians into handing over deeds to property. They said the church was attacked because it contains many of the valuables that Christians would not keep at home.

"We believe there are elements who want to drive Christians out of the Gaza Strip," a church source said. "We have gone to the government and there has not been a response."

In October 2007, a Christian who refused to convert to Islam was killed by an unidentified fundamentalist Muslim faction in the Gaza Strip. No suspects have been arrested.

Church figures have also been attacked in the Palestinian Authority. In October, a pastor in Ramallah said he was the victim of an extortion attempt by a PA official. Isa Bajali, born in the United States, said the unidentified official and others demanded $30,000.