A school and convent belonging to the Gaza Strip's tiny Roman Catholic community were ransacked, burned and looted during factional clashes around a major security headquarters in Gaza City, the head of the community said Monday.

"Crosses were broken, a statue of Jesus was damaged, and prayer books were burnt at the Rosary Sisters School and nearby convent," said Father Manuel Musallem, head of Gaza's Latin church.

The property sustained the damage on Thursday, but it wasn't reported until days later because of the chaos that has prevailed since Hamas militants wrested power in Gaza, Musallem said. The religious compound is located near a key security headquarters Hamas captured Thursday on the final day of its recent Gaza takeover.

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"Gunmen used the roof of the school during the fighting, and the convent was desecrated," Mussalem said.

"Nothing happens by mistake these days," he said. The doors of the convent were knocked open with mortars and furniture was damaged. Prayer books in the chapel were burned, crosses broken, and a statue of Jesus was damaged.

Seven computers were removed, but three were brought back after the vandalism
was reported to Palestinian authorities.

Deposed prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas condemned the attack on the religious compound and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas of the rival Fatah movement said in statement late Sunday that the "barbaric attack was the act of Hamas' militia."

"There may be some in Hamas who wanted to cause strife between Muslims and Christians," Musallem said.

Hamas lawmaker Salah Bardawil denied that Hamas had a hand in the vandalism. "The Christians are our brothers in Gaza and everywhere, and we will protect their holy places and school, as we do our Islamic schools, he said. But there are some dirty elements who work to harm Hamas' image ... and relations, but this will not happen."