25-12-2023 (JERUSALEM) Pope Francis expressed deep sorrow for the ongoing conflict in the Holy Land, where Christmas Eve airstrikes, among the deadliest in Israel’s 11-week battle with Hamas, claimed the lives of at least 78 people, according to Palestinian health officials.
The Israeli airstrikes, which began hours before midnight, continued into Christmas Day, with reports of escalated air and ground shelling against al-Bureij in central Gaza. A particularly devastating Israeli airstrike targeting Maghazi in central Gaza resulted in the tragic loss of at least 70 lives, including numerous women and children, as confirmed by health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra.
The Israeli army, while reviewing reports of the Maghazi incident, asserted its commitment to minimizing harm to civilians. Hamas, on the other hand, denies operating in densely populated areas or using civilians as human shields.
The Palestinian Red Crescent shared footage revealing the challenges in transporting the wounded to hospitals, citing Israeli warplanes hindering the passage of ambulances on main roads between central Gaza. In Khan Younis, southern Gaza, a separate Israeli airstrike claimed the lives of eight Palestinians.
In Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian West Bank, clergy cancelled celebrations due to the somber atmosphere. Pope Francis, presiding over Christmas Eve Mass in Rome’s St. Peter’s Basilica, lamented the rejection of peace in Bethlehem, emphasizing the futility of war’s logic.
Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem held a Christmas vigil, replacing the usual celebrations with candle-lit hymns and prayers for peace in Gaza. Notably absent were the grand Christmas tree and usual festive decorations, replaced by nativity figurines amidst rubble and barbed wire in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
The conflict, escalating since the collapse of a week-long truce at the beginning of the month, has seen intensified fighting from the north to the full length of the densely populated Gaza Strip. The Israeli military reported its worst two-day losses since early November, with 10 soldiers killed in the past day.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the heavy cost of the war but affirmed the necessity to continue fighting. In a video message, he stated that troops would push deeper into Gaza until achieving “total victory” over Hamas.
The United States has urged Israel to shift its operations to reduce civilian casualties, while Israel’s military chief of staff announced operational control in the north of Gaza, with plans to expand operations further south. However, residents claim that fighting has only intensified in northern districts.
Efforts for a new truce, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, have shown limited public progress. Islamic Jihad, a smaller militant group allied to Hamas, revealed a diplomatic mission in Cairo led by its exiled leader Ziad al-Nakhlala. Talks attended by Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh aimed at securing the release of remaining hostages in Gaza continue, with both sides holding firm to their conditions.
Hamas and Islamic Jihad, both committed to Israel’s destruction, are believed to still hold over 100 hostages from the October 7 rampage through Israeli towns. The conflict has left Gaza besieged, much of it in ruins, with a devastating toll on the civilian population. The United Nations describes the conditions in Gaza as catastrophic, with thousands confirmed dead and countless others believed buried under the rubble.
