Pope Francis attends the inauguration of a seasonal nativity scene

Published on December, 46 2024
Pope Francis

Photo in the public domain 

by Jan Corderman 

December 2024

BETHLEHEM, West Bank—For a second year running, there is no Christmas cheer in Bethlehem, with tourists shunning the Palestinian city and many residents seeking a way out as the Gaza war grinds on.  Bethlehem's Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity is largely deserted and souvenir shops are shuttered.

"During these difficult times that our Palestinian cities are going through, especially in the Gaza Strip, it is difficult to show any signs of joy and happiness," said Issa Thaljieh, an Orthodox priest who ministers at the Nativity Church.

  • 44,758 + Palestinians killed and at least 106,134 wounded in the Gaza Strip, 59% of whom are women, children, and elderly.
  • 808+ Palestinians have been killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This includes at least 146 children.  At least 6,250 injured.
  • Israel revised its estimated October 7 death toll down from 1,400 to 1,189.  At least 8,730 injured.

Amnesty International’s December 5 report, ‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza, documents how, during its military offensive launched in the wake of the deadly Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, Israel has unleashed hell and destruction on Palestinians in Gaza brazenly, continuously and with total impunity. The report alleges that Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip constitutes the crime of genocide under international law, the first such determination by a major human rights organization in the 14-month-old conflict. Amnesty has called on the UN to enforce a ceasefire, impose targeted sanctions on Israeli and top Hamas officials, and for western governments such as the US, the UK and Germany to stop providing security assistance and selling arms to Israel.

The US is now very alone in its support of Israel. On December 11 the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for a resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, which was adopted with 158 votes in favor from the 193-member assembly and nine votes against with 13 abstentions.  Palestinians and their supporters went to the General Assembly after the US vetoed a Security Council resolution on November 20 demanding an immediate Gaza ceasefire.  Algeria’s deputy UN ambassador Nacim Gaouaoui warns:  “The price of silence and failure in the face of the Palestinian tragedy is a very heavy price, and it will be heavier tomorrow.”

The WILPF US Middle East Peace & Justice Committee sponsored a webinar on the International Day of Peace, the global event that aims to promote peace and understanding, on September 21.  Perhaps you were able to join us.  Together we watched the documentary, ‘The Night Won’t End:  Biden’s War on Gaza’. Through the 1 hour 18 minute film, Fault Lines and Al Jazeera take an in-depth look at attacks on civilians by the Israeli military in Gaza and the United States’ role in the war. 

Nada Farhat, MEPJAC Leadership Team member, introduced Sharif Abdel Kouddous, the Al Jazeera correspondent for “the Night Won’t End”.  Sharif is independent print and television journalist based in New York and Cairo. He is a recipient of the George Polk Award for his investigation into the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, an Emmy award for his coverage of the Trump administration’s Muslim travel ban, and an Izzy Award for his coverage of the 2011 Egyptian revolution.  

Sharif and the documentary leave no room to question that U.S. weapons have killed civilians in Gaza in violation of both international humanitarian law and domestic law.  

MEPJAC will be hosting more webinars with Sharif. Keep an eye out for future announcements.  

The grief, sorrow, and pain are endless. And it is funded and enabled by the United States, which continues to arm the Israeli government. Congress must intervene.  Use the link below to tell Congress to demand an immediate, permanent cease-fire and humanitarian access for Gaza. Urge them to end all military funding to Israel. 

 

Deck the Halls (Stop the Bombs)

Stop the bombs, the news is dire!  Fa la la la la, la la la la.
We demand a full ceasefire.   Fa la la la la, la la la la.
No more money for these weapons.   Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season, peace now beckons. Fa la la la la, la la la la.

We can’t bomb our way to peace.    Fa la la la la, la la la la.
When will all this suff’ring cease?  Fa la la la la, la la la la. 
Weapon sales fill U.S. pockets.  Fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing bombs and rockets.   Fa la la la la, la la la la.

U.S. blesses Israel’s tactics.   Fa la la la la, la la la la.
That’s B.S. ye lads and lasses!   Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we now in holy anger.   Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing for ev’ry friend and stranger.   Fa la la la la, la la la la.

 

 

 

Alert/Update Category: 
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