Christmas celebrations have been muted across the occupied West Bank.

In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, many are dedicating prayers to the victims of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The foreign tourists that usually visit the city at this time of year are also absent amid the war in Gaza and escalating Israeli violence in the occupied West Bank.

Munther Isaac, the pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, said that the situation of Christians is no different than other Palestinians. “They all face the threat of displacement under genocide,” he stressed.

“We never dreamed of celebrating Christmas while the genocide is going on in Gaza for more than 14 months. It is not possible for us to celebrate normally while Gaza is in this situation.

“Israel targets both Muslim and Christian presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.”
Munther Isaac

In Gaza, Israel’s relentless bombardment continued.

Israeli attacks have hit the offices of the Palestinian Civil Defence, which is responsible for emergency services and search and rescue operations across the Palestinian territory.

Two staff members were killed in separate attacks, along with the son of one of the slain emergency workers.

Gone were the sparkling lights, the festive decorations and the towering Christmas tree that had graced Gaza City for decades.

The Square of the Unknown Soldier, once alive with the spirit of the season, now lies in ruins, reduced to rubble by relentless Israeli air strikes.

George al-Sayegh, who for weeks has sought refuge in the 12th century Greek Orthodox Church of St Porphyrius, said, “This Christmas carries the stench of death and destruction.” He said, “There is no joy, no festive spirit. We don’t even know who will survive until the next holiday.”

Global Food Crisis Monitor Warns Of Famine

Meanwhile, FEWS NET, a US-created global food crisis monitor, warned that a famine is likely unfolding in besieged North Gaza, where up to 15,000 people are estimated to remain trapped.

The US-created food crisis monitor also said that if Israel keeps up the blockade that it began on October 5, deaths from starvation could pass famine levels as early as next month.

FEWS NET uses a scale developed by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) to assess famine. The IPC has a five-tier classification system, with Phase 5 being the most extreme level.

“Based on the collapse of the food system and worsening access to water, sanitation, and health services in these areas […] it is highly likely that the food consumption and acute malnutrition thresholds for Famine (IPC Phase 5) have now been surpassed in North Gaza Governorate.

“In the absence of a change to Israeli policy on the entry of food and nutrition supplies to this area, FEWS NET expects non-trauma mortality levels will pass the Famine (IPC Phase 5) threshold between January and March 2025, with at least 2-15 people dying per day.”
FEWS NET

However, Jacob Lew, the US Ambassador to Israel, dismissed the report, saying FEWS NET relied on data that is “outdated and inaccurate.”

He said in a statement that FEWS NET’s assessment assumes there are between 65,000 to 75,000 people remaining in north Gaza. But that Israeli and UN estimates show the figure is in the range of 7,000 to 15,000. “At a time when inaccurate information is causing confusion and accusations, it is irresponsible to issue a report like this,” Lew said.

Later, FEWS NET took down the report warning of famine in north Gaza.

The development comes after the US envoy to Israel criticised the group’s assessment as “irresponsible.”