Palestinian Christians Advocate for Cease-Fire, Cancel Christmas Festivities

Palestinian Christian leaders in Bethlehem have decided to cancel Christmas festivities this year as a show of solidarity with their brethren in Gaza, who are facing Israeli bombardments and a humanitarian crisis. A small delegation of Palestinian Christians visited Washington to lobby the Biden administration and U.S. lawmakers for a full-scale cease-fire. The Christian community in Gaza has been severely affected, with most of their homes destroyed or damaged, prompting some to leave the territory. The delegation also highlighted the growing hostility towards Palestinian Christians in the West Bank and Jerusalem. They called for justice, peace, and accountability, emphasizing the need for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.