in Bethlehem, Christmas festivities were canceled in solidarity with Gaza

Due to the war between Hamas and Israel, Christmas celebrations were canceled in Bethlehem. In a Protestant church in the holy city, a nativity scene representing the birth of Jesus in rubble was even erected as a sign of support for Gazans.

Fighting continues in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Friday, December 22 to improve the delivery of humanitarian aid there, with the opening of new corridors.

In this dramatic context, the city of Bethlehem in the West Bank, considered for Christians as the birthplace of Jesus, decided to cancel its Christmas festivities in solidarity with the Gazans. In a Lutheran church, the reverend even created a special nativity scene to honor them.

You have to head towards the choir of the church to see this pile of rubble on the ground. Among the stones, a baby wrapped in a keffiyeh, this fabric symbol of Palestinian resistance. With this Christmas nativity scene, Reverend Munther Isaac wishes to recall the tragedy currently unfolding in Gaza. “It depicts the ruins of a bombed house in Gaza and Christ in these ruinsdescribes Munther Isaac. We want to say that if Christ were born today, he would be born in Gaza, under this rubble.”

“This nativity scene shows our solidarity with every oppressed child and displaced family in Gaza. This is our Christmas message.”

Munther Isaac, reverend in Bethlehem

at franceinfo

In solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, the reverend also asks his faithful to celebrate New Year’s Eve as soberly as possible this year. Anyway, when it comes to the tree, the gifts and the big meals, the heart isn’t in it. “We will focus on prayers, hope and faith. Yes, it will be resistance through prayer”explains Munther Isaac.

In Bethlehem, in the West Bank, few men of the church take such a frank position on the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Munther Isaac assumes : “We are all Palestinians at the base who face settlers. Christian and Muslim Palestinians, facing the same attacks and suffering. Israel was created on destroyed villages where Muslims but also Christians lived.

“Gaza is our family. Gaza is us.”

Munther Isaac, reverend in Bethlehem

at franceinfo

The reverend, very connected, shows us his phone and the photos that pass before his eyes. “There, I first see that Christians in the United States have reproduced the nativity scene that we imagined heresays the reverend. It gives us courage because it proves that there is awareness across the world. And maybe that can help get a ceasefire.”

His crèche for Gaza has become a symbol, but Munther Isaac knows it : symbols and prayers are not enough to stop a war.