From an artwork depicting baby Jesus in an incubator and a blown out nativity scene sculpture, Christmas has taken on different hue for Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Caught in the throes of war with the challenges of displacement, destruction of infrastructure, starvation and disruptions to daily life, civilians in Gaza are bearing the scars of the ongoing conflict, which seems not to have an end in sight at the moment.
Displacement camps and makeshift shelters have become the unfortunate homes for those who fled to the south of the enclave.
The absence of familiar surroundings, combined with the constant threat of danger, has dampen the joy that Christmas is meant to bring.
Sadly, they still face the threat of displacement, being ordered to moved from one place to the other. Israel’s latest evacuation order came on Friday and it affects about 150,000 people.
Responding to this, Thomas White, UNRWA Director in Gaza stated that people in the enclave should not be treated as “pieces on a checkerboard.”
“… many have already been displaced several times. The Israeli Army just orders people to move into areas where there are ongoing airstrikes,” he posted on X.
The air in Gaza is heavy with the scent of blood and the echoes of explosions as well as the sight of shattered bodies while in Bethlehem, the biblical city in the occupied West Bank where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born in a manger more than 2,000 years ago, the air is filled with somberness and anxiety.
Amid Israel’s brutal war on Gaza, Christmas, a traditional season of merriment, has turned into helplessness, pain and worry for many Palestinian Christians – in Bethlehem and beyond.
Some are mourning, lobbying for the war to end, scrambling to get relatives to safety or seeking comfort in the Christmas message of hope.
As a nation caught in the grip of an unforgiving war between Israel and Hamas, Bethlehem practically cancelled the annual Christmas celebrations that normally draw thousands of tourists.
The town did away with its giant Christmas tree, marching bands and flamboyant nativity scene this year, settling for just a few festive lights.
Even on Christmas, Israel has not relented on its strikes on Gaza. Israel launched air attacks on central Gaza, which also targeted the Maghazi and Bureij refugee camps overnight.
At least 70 Palestinians have been killed in the air attack on the Maghazi refugee camp.
Overnight raids were reported across the occupied West Bank continued, including in Bethlehem, Jenin and Nablus.
The Prisoners’ Affairs Authority said in a statement that at least 35 people have been detained by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank in overnight raids.
In his Christmas eve address, Pope Francis said, “our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world.”
As Christmas is being celebrated in stable and peaceful environments, it is crucial to acknowledge the sobering reality of those living in conflict zones such as Ukraine and Gaza.
The holiday season serves as a reminder of the urgent need for global cooperation to address conflict, provide humanitarian aid, and work towards sustainable peace.
In doing this, a greater understanding of the challenges faced by nations in war is gained and contributions to the collective effort to build a more peaceful world will be made.
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