Dr. Ramzi Khouri, member of the PLO Executive Committee and Head of The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine, addressed leaders and representatives of churches and Christian institutions worldwide. This heartfelt message, sent on the occasion of Christmas, comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, marking the second consecutive year of Israel’s genocidal war.
Dr. Khouri extended the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas to the global Christian community, expressing hopes for a coming year defined by peace, stability, and an end to the war.
The committee’s message conveyed the profound pain experienced in the Holy Land, particularly in Bethlehem—the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Once a symbol of hope and peace, Bethlehem now stands deprived of festive joy due to Israeli crimes.
The atrocities committed, especially in Gaza, have erased entire families from existence, left tens of thousands wounded, and displaced nearly two million people. The committee warned of an impending humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where Israel has weaponized humanitarian aid to exert control over countless innocent lives.
The letters emphasized that this brutal war is not new but a continuation of a 76-year-long oppression. During this time, Israeli actions have systematically targeted churches, mosques, schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure across Palestine. These measures aim to strip Palestinians of their basic human rights and deny them the dignity they rightfully deserve.
The suffering extends beyond Gaza, affecting every Palestinian city, village, and refugee camp. The oppressive Israeli occupation’s shadow looms heavily over Bethlehem, transforming it from a land of peace into a realm of despair. The occupation has robbed Christmas of its joy, stolen the innocence of children, and undermined the sanctity of human life.
The message also shared the voices of children in Gaza who, despite their pain and loss, cling to hope. These children—robbed of their right to education, their schools destroyed, and their homes devastated—expressed a simple yet profound wish: for the war to end so they can return to school, decorate Christmas trees, and reclaim their stolen childhood.
The committee’s letter strongly condemned these systematic Israeli actions as deliberate attempts to displace, uproot, and annihilate Palestinians while desecrating their Muslim and Christian holy sites. Such acts are a blatant violation of international law and an affront to the principles of justice and humanity.
Dr. Khouri decried the alarming silence of the international community in the face of these atrocities. He called on the international community to fulfill their moral and legal responsibilities to protect human dignity in Palestine and to take a firm stand against the ongoing Israeli crimes and violations.
The message urged the international community to support Palestinian efforts to achieve justice and peace, implement international resolutions, and hold perpetrators accountable for war crimes. It called for an end to the double standards that enable this genocide to continue unchecked. The Palestinian people’s aspirations for freedom, peace, and dignity are legitimate and universal. They seek an independent and sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital—a place where their children can grow in safety and security, far removed from the horrors of war.
The message concluded with a solemn appeal from the Holy Grotto in Bethlehem, calling on the conscience of humanity to transform words into action, to end the suffering of the Palestinian people, restore hope, and ensure that the next Christmas is celebrated as a true season of peace, justice, and reverence for the sanctity of life.
