٠٠:٠٣:٣٠A church in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank has prepared a nativity scene featuring the baby Jesus surrounded by rubble to symbolise the destruction of the Gaza Strip.
Footage captured at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church on Thursday shows the decoration, which also includes olive saplings, broken tree branches and an arrangement of icons and candles.
“We thought, what is a good way to bring the meaning of Christmas to life, for our people first but also to send a message to the world, and the idea of this manger came around,” explained Dr Munther Isaac, a reverend at the church.
“This is what Christmas looks like in Palestine today. When all the world is celebrating Christmas in festive ways, decorations and lights and trees, in Palestine, children are being killed, houses are destroyed, families are displaced," he continued.
This display comes after the Bethlehem municipality announced the cancellation of Christmas this year, with the usual city-wide festive decorations and celebrations toned down in honour of those who have been killed in Gaza.
“It's impossible to celebrate Christmas and have all the festivals when there is a genocide taking place in our land. When children are killed and being pulled from under the rubble," the reverend said.
“It's going to be a different Christmas of course and prayer will be our only moment of hope this year, in which we pray, we restore our faith in God and, hopefully, peace will come," he added.
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. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials have reported that at least 15,899 people have been killed and more than 42,000 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces 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.
'What Christmas looks like in Palestine' - Nativity scene shows Jesus in rubble at Bethlehem church
A church in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank has prepared a nativity scene featuring the baby Jesus surrounded by rubble to symbolise the destruction of the Gaza Strip.
Footage captured at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church on Thursday shows the decoration, which also includes olive saplings, broken tree branches and an arrangement of icons and candles.
“We thought, what is a good way to bring the meaning of Christmas to life, for our people first but also to send a message to the world, and the idea of this manger came around,” explained Dr Munther Isaac, a reverend at the church.
“This is what Christmas looks like in Palestine today. When all the world is celebrating Christmas in festive ways, decorations and lights and trees, in Palestine, children are being killed, houses are destroyed, families are displaced," he continued.
This display comes after the Bethlehem municipality announced the cancellation of Christmas this year, with the usual city-wide festive decorations and celebrations toned down in honour of those who have been killed in Gaza.
“It's impossible to celebrate Christmas and have all the festivals when there is a genocide taking place in our land. When children are killed and being pulled from under the rubble," the reverend said.
“It's going to be a different Christmas of course and prayer will be our only moment of hope this year, in which we pray, we restore our faith in God and, hopefully, peace will come," he added.
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. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials have reported that at least 15,899 people have been killed and more than 42,000 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces 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.
A church in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank has prepared a nativity scene featuring the baby Jesus surrounded by rubble to symbolise the destruction of the Gaza Strip.
Footage captured at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church on Thursday shows the decoration, which also includes olive saplings, broken tree branches and an arrangement of icons and candles.
“We thought, what is a good way to bring the meaning of Christmas to life, for our people first but also to send a message to the world, and the idea of this manger came around,” explained Dr Munther Isaac, a reverend at the church.
“This is what Christmas looks like in Palestine today. When all the world is celebrating Christmas in festive ways, decorations and lights and trees, in Palestine, children are being killed, houses are destroyed, families are displaced," he continued.
This display comes after the Bethlehem municipality announced the cancellation of Christmas this year, with the usual city-wide festive decorations and celebrations toned down in honour of those who have been killed in Gaza.
“It's impossible to celebrate Christmas and have all the festivals when there is a genocide taking place in our land. When children are killed and being pulled from under the rubble," the reverend said.
“It's going to be a different Christmas of course and prayer will be our only moment of hope this year, in which we pray, we restore our faith in God and, hopefully, peace will come," he added.
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. A ground incursion began at the end of the third week, with Israeli leaders vowing to 'wipe out' Hamas. Palestinian officials have reported that at least 15,899 people have been killed and more than 42,000 injured at the time of publication.
The Israeli Defence Forces 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.