٠٠:٠٣:٠٧Christian residents of Jerusalem are preparing to celebrate Christmas on Sunday, despite the cancellation of festivities as a gesture of solidarity with Gaza.
Footage filmed in Bethlehem shows the arrival of His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in a non-celebratory atmosphere. Children can also be seen holding banners reading 'Gaza in the heart' and 'Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, for your reward is great in heaven'.
"This is a very sad Christmas, as we have seen, there is no atmosphere of 'fest' here because we are in a war, a terrible war. Our thoughts go out to Gaza, to all the people in Gaza," said His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Media reports indicate that the Christian quarter of Jerusalem lacks the usual lights, decorations, and Christmas trees this year.
"Honestly, this is the most heartbroken Christmas we have ever had in Bethlehem for 25 years. Manger Square used to be overcrowded with joyful vibes where people especially children celebrated and rejoiced with fireworks, and gifts among other things," shared Daniela Dukmak, a Bethlehem citizen.
"But this year, in Gaza, which is a kilometre away, we are witnessing the extermination of 20,000 Gazans, including 10,000 children and more than 6,000 women, all of them civilians," she added.
On November 10th, the leaders of Jerusalem's churches issued a collective statement, expressing their commitment to support those facing difficulties this year. They renounced unnecessary festive activities and urged for a focus on 'protection, prayer, and generous contributions' for the ongoing victims of the war.
The Gaza Health Ministry recently claimed 20,057 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip since October 7, and over 53,320 were wounded.
Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200 according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes which Palestinian officials reported had killed over 1,500 people in the first week - and many thousands more since. A ground incursion began at the end of the third, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
'Our thoughts go out to Gaza' - Jerusalem residents prepare for Christmas amid cancelled celebrations
Christian residents of Jerusalem are preparing to celebrate Christmas on Sunday, despite the cancellation of festivities as a gesture of solidarity with Gaza.
Footage filmed in Bethlehem shows the arrival of His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in a non-celebratory atmosphere. Children can also be seen holding banners reading 'Gaza in the heart' and 'Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, for your reward is great in heaven'.
"This is a very sad Christmas, as we have seen, there is no atmosphere of 'fest' here because we are in a war, a terrible war. Our thoughts go out to Gaza, to all the people in Gaza," said His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Media reports indicate that the Christian quarter of Jerusalem lacks the usual lights, decorations, and Christmas trees this year.
"Honestly, this is the most heartbroken Christmas we have ever had in Bethlehem for 25 years. Manger Square used to be overcrowded with joyful vibes where people especially children celebrated and rejoiced with fireworks, and gifts among other things," shared Daniela Dukmak, a Bethlehem citizen.
"But this year, in Gaza, which is a kilometre away, we are witnessing the extermination of 20,000 Gazans, including 10,000 children and more than 6,000 women, all of them civilians," she added.
On November 10th, the leaders of Jerusalem's churches issued a collective statement, expressing their commitment to support those facing difficulties this year. They renounced unnecessary festive activities and urged for a focus on 'protection, prayer, and generous contributions' for the ongoing victims of the war.
The Gaza Health Ministry recently claimed 20,057 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip since October 7, and over 53,320 were wounded.
Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200 according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes which Palestinian officials reported had killed over 1,500 people in the first week - and many thousands more since. A ground incursion began at the end of the third, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.
Christian residents of Jerusalem are preparing to celebrate Christmas on Sunday, despite the cancellation of festivities as a gesture of solidarity with Gaza.
Footage filmed in Bethlehem shows the arrival of His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in a non-celebratory atmosphere. Children can also be seen holding banners reading 'Gaza in the heart' and 'Blessed are you when they revile you and persecute you, for your reward is great in heaven'.
"This is a very sad Christmas, as we have seen, there is no atmosphere of 'fest' here because we are in a war, a terrible war. Our thoughts go out to Gaza, to all the people in Gaza," said His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
Media reports indicate that the Christian quarter of Jerusalem lacks the usual lights, decorations, and Christmas trees this year.
"Honestly, this is the most heartbroken Christmas we have ever had in Bethlehem for 25 years. Manger Square used to be overcrowded with joyful vibes where people especially children celebrated and rejoiced with fireworks, and gifts among other things," shared Daniela Dukmak, a Bethlehem citizen.
"But this year, in Gaza, which is a kilometre away, we are witnessing the extermination of 20,000 Gazans, including 10,000 children and more than 6,000 women, all of them civilians," she added.
On November 10th, the leaders of Jerusalem's churches issued a collective statement, expressing their commitment to support those facing difficulties this year. They renounced unnecessary festive activities and urged for a focus on 'protection, prayer, and generous contributions' for the ongoing victims of the war.
The Gaza Health Ministry recently claimed 20,057 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip since October 7, and over 53,320 were wounded.
Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping over 200 according to Israeli officials.
Israel declared war on the group and a 'complete siege' of Gaza, with a large-scale campaign of air strikes which Palestinian officials reported had killed over 1,500 people in the first week - and many thousands more since. A ground incursion began at the end of the third, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed that Hamas locations and infrastructure were targeted in the response. However, United Nations experts warned against 'collective punishment' for the people of Gaza, before predicting a 'humanitarian crisis' and then claimed that 'hell is settling in' for the region.