The Hamas charter is quite clear about their intent to establish an Islamic state ruled by shari’a law, and one of the steps toward this goal is the eradication of Christian organizations—like the YMCA: Hamas seeks closure of Kalkilya YMCA.

Islamic religious leaders in this city have signed a petition calling on the new Hamas cabinet to shut down the local YMCA under the pretext that it is involved in “missionary activities.” The Hamas-controlled municipality has expressed its support for the call.

The campaign against the YMCA began earlier this week when arsonists set fire to some of its offices.

Meanwhile, Israel on Thursday released Kalkilya Mayor Wajih Kawwas after four years in administrative detention. He was elected as mayor last year while he was still in prison. He ran on Hamas’s Change and Reform List, which won all the seats in the municipal election.

Kawwas was received by hundreds of Hamas supporters here who chanted slogans in support of the Islamic group.

The petition against the YMCA was signed by Sheikh Salah Eddin Sabri, the mufti of Kalkilya, more than 40 mosque imams, representatives of the municipality and clan leaders and officials from various Islamic institutions.