Palestinian Christians Celebrate Christmas Only A Religious Ritual In The Aftermath Of The Israeli Invasion

Illustration of Christmas 2024. Antara)

JAKARTA - The 2024 Palestinian Christmas celebration is only a religious ritual, given Israel's ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

"Christmas celebrations throughout the Holy Land will only include religious rituals, as happened last year," the head of the High Presidential Committee for Church Affairs Ramzi Khoury said in a statement, Saturday, November 24, which was confiscated by Antara.

Khoury stressed the importance of Palestinian unity amid the pain, sadness, and suffering caused by genocide perpetrated on the population of Gaza by the Israeli army.

She called on churches around the world to "remember in their prayers Palestinian children and women who have been killed, injured, displaced, or lost, and those who have been blocked by the joy of Christmas by Israeli war engines."

Khoury stressed the need to press for serious efforts to stop genocide and push for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Last year's Christmas celebrations in Palestine were also restricted to religious rituals due to Israeli attacks on Gaza which began after October 7, 2023.

Palestinian Christians who take part in the Western calendar celebrate Christmas on December 25, while those participating in the Eastern calendar celebrate the holiday on January 7.

Israel launched a genocide war in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Palestinians, Hamas, in October last year.

Israeli attacks killed more than 44,000 victims and injured nearly 104,500 people.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli chief authority Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense chief Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel is also facing genocide cases at the International Court (ICJ) over its war in Gaza.