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Palestinian authorities were unable to determine the perpetrators of the attack. On 15 April 2007, the store was bombed a second time. The bombing took place as part of a string of attacks that targeted internet cafés and music stores on the same day, suspected to have been carried out by an
Islamist group called the
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expressed his disapproval of the killing and affirmed that the
Islamist movement “would not allow anyone to sabotage” relationships between Muslims and Christians. Gaza's Interior Ministry released a statement affirming that the crime would not go unpunished and pledged to hold those responsible for
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neighborhood in Gaza. He had been severely beaten. A note was found near his body that accused him of being a "missionary" and warned others not to engage in similar activities. According to witnesses and security officials, Ayyad had been driven a few blocks away from the store by his abductors and
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On 6 October 2007, at around 4:30 p.m., as Ayyad was locking up the bookstore, he was forced into a car by a group of masked men and driven away. His wife
Pauline was with him at the time of the kidnapping but was not harmed. Ayyad's mother reported that he called the family after he was seized,
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exploded and destroyed the bookshop's doors. Soon afterwards, employees received a threatening note demanding that the shop close permanently. In the aftermath of the attack, many Gazans held rallies and gathered to show support for the shop remaining open. The store reopened five weeks later;
156:. The Gazan Christian community had a subdued Christmas. Churches held simple services and Christmas decorations were not displayed. The lack of progress in finding Ayyad's killers led the community to fear Islamic extremists being emboldened, despite reassurances from
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The bookstore faced multiple threats and attacks prior to Ayyad's kidnapping and killing. It had been bombed on several occasions, and Ayyad was known to have received death threats over the years. 6 months before his killing, the bookstore had been firebombed.
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on 7 October 2007. He was the manager of the only
Christian bookstore in the Gaza Strip called The Teacher's Bookshop as well as the director of the Protestant Holy Bible Society.
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In 2007, Gaza was home to approximately 3,000 Christians. Historically, Gazan
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and his work at the bookstore. The bookstore had been the target of several attacks in the past, including bombings and arson.
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Ayyad's murder accountable for their actions. Hamas maintained that the murder was not religiously motivated.
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Ayyad's killing was condemned by
Christian leaders, human rights organizations, and political leaders.
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saying he would be with "the people" for another two hours and that he may not return for a long time.
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condemned the killing, stating that the "ugly act" had no support from any religious group in Gaza.
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Following the killing, Ayyad's bookshop closed, and his widow and her children relocated to the
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Although no group claimed responsibility for the killing, it is widely believed that Ayyad was
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2007 killing of
Palestinian Christian activist in Gaza City, Palestine
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No group claimed responsibility for the murder of Ayyad.
504:"Christian Bookstore Owner Was Tortured Before His Death"
356:"Palestinian Christian Activist Stabbed to Death in Gaza"
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The next day, Ayyad's body was found in a field near the
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Vu, Michelle A.; Reporter, Christian Post (2007-04-17).
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activist kidnapped and killed by unknown assailants in
91:. In addition to selling books, the store also ran
308:"After murder, Gaza's Christians keep low profile"
433:"Bombed Gaza Christian Bookstore Vows to Re-Open"
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274:"Prominent Palestinian Christian killed in Gaza"
574:Opposition to Christianity in the Middle East
544:Gaza City in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
140:by three gunmen who accused him of trying to
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589:2000s murders in the Palestinian territories
229:Islamist anti-Hamas groups in the Gaza Strip
408:"Gaza Christian Bookstore Manager Murdered"
594:Deaths by person in the State of Palestine
584:Terrorism deaths in the State of Palestine
534:2007 crimes in the Palestinian territories
481:"Palestinian Christian found dead in Gaza"
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46:targeted because of his Christian faith
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579:Persecution of Christians by Muslims
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457:"Prominent Christian killed in Gaza"
383:"Gaza's Christian bookseller killed"
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485:The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com
106:On 3 February 2006, two small
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18:The Teacher's Bookshop
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249:Persecution of Christians
132:subsequently beaten with
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89:Gazan Christian minority
234:Palestinian Christians
119:Kidnapping and killing
61:The Teacher's Bookshop
85:Christian goods store
35:Palestinian Christian
244:Islamization of Gaza
93:educational services
554:Islamic nationalism
239:Gaza Baptist Church
221:Christianity portal
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509:2018-11-22 at the
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461:Al Jazeera
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393:2023-03-15
365:2023-03-15
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255:References
108:pipe bombs
52:Background
167:Reactions
154:West Bank
148:Aftermath
81:Gaza City
39:Gaza City
507:Archived
312:NBC News
193:See also
360:Haaretz
336:Haaretz
278:Reuters
129:Zeitoun
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