Member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, Dr. Ramzi Khouri, issued a statement emphasizing the importance of confining Christmas celebrations in the Holy Land to religious rituals, following the practice set last year.
Dr. Khouri stressed the vital importance of unity among all Palestinians, reaffirming the shared struggle and destiny of the Palestinian people amidst the immense suffering and pain caused by the ongoing genocide in Gaza. He highlighted the grave atrocities committed by Israeli occupation forces, whose military aggression has persisted for over a year, further exacerbated by the policies of the Israeli extremist right-wing government aimed at displacing Palestinians in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem.
The statement called for an immediate and decisive action to end the genocide against the Palestinian people and called for international pressure to enforce an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Dr. Khouri emphasized the need for a just and lasting solution that guarantees security, stability, and the full realization of the Palestinian people’s legitimate rights, as stipulated in international laws and agreements.
Addressing churches worldwide, Dr. Khouri called on them to remember, in their prayers and Christmas sermons, the children, women, and families of Palestine who have been killed, wounded, displaced, or remain missing. He underscored the profound suffering inflicted by the Israeli killing machine, which has deprived the Palestinian people of the joy of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Dr. Khouri urged churches to dedicate this Christmas to prayers and appeals for the end of war and the establishment of lasting peace. He expressed hope for a future where the Palestinian people can enjoy freedom, justice, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
