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Chris Bandak

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Chris Bandak (Arabic: كريس البندك; born January 13, 1979) (alternatively transliterated as Chris Benedict) is a Palestinian militant, who was convicted in Israel for shooting at Israeli motorists, during the Second Intifada.[1][2] He is a Greek Orthodox Christian.[2]

Bandak was born into a Palestinian Christian family on January 13, 1979, in Bethlehem. He was born near the Church of the Nativity, said to mark the birthplace of Jesus of Nazareth, and his parents gave him the name Chris through its association with messiahship and since they believe Jesus to be of Palestinian descent as well as a savior of the Palestinians. He has an older brother named Khader. Chris' mother abandoned them when he was one years old. He was reportedly a leader of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades and the Tanzim, both resistance wings of the Fatah movement. As a result of conviction for crimes related to this involvement he was imprisoned by Israel on February 6, 2003.[3][4][5]

At the time of his arrest, Bandak was described as the only Christian in the entire Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades.[6][7][8] However, during a meeting with Bandak's family in 2009, Palestinian Authority official Issa Qaraqe hinted that there were other imprisoned Christian militants as well.[9] The only other known Christian from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades was Daniel Saba George ("Abu Hamama"), a senior Tanzim operative killed by Israel in 2006.[10][11][12]

Bandak was released in 2011 as part of an exchange for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "PA minister visits family of imprisoned Palestinian Christian". Ma'an News Agency. Palestinian Territories. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  2. ^ a b Miskin, Maayana (5 July 2009). "PA Minister: Muslims, Christians Fighting Jews Together". Arutz Sheva. Israel. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  3. ^ "PA minister visits family of imprisoned Palestinian Christian". Ma'an News Agency. Palestinian Territories. 4 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  4. ^ A People Without a Country: Voices from Palestine - Page 28, Marian Saadeh, Harry Katz - 2011
  5. ^ A Season in Bethlehem: Unholy War in a Sacred Place, Joshua Hammer - 2004
  6. ^ "Israel warns of Iraq war 'earthquake'". BBC. 2003-02-07. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  7. ^ "Israel Arrests Suspected Christian Palestinian Terrorist". www.catholicculture.org. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  8. ^ "First Christian in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades". www.comeandsee.com. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  9. ^ Miskin, Maayana (5 July 2009). "PA Minister: Muslims, Christians Fighting Jews Together". Arutz Sheva. Israel. Archived from the original on 25 November 2023. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  10. ^ "Senior Tanzim operative killed during arrest activity in Bethlehem". embassies.gov.il. 23 April 2006. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  11. ^ "Palestinian priests and mourners pray over the body of Daniel Abu Hamama..." Getty Images. 2023-09-21. Archived from the original on 9 July 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-09.
  12. ^ Progress, Research in (2015-09-01). "Fatah Martyr Daniel Saba George". The Palestine Poster Project Archives. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  13. ^ Ajbaili, Mustapha (18 October 2011). "Palestinian female prisoners resist deportation to Gaza". Al Arabiya News.
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