the, the a subdued christmas investor him festivities are new to this year in the occupied territories. as israel's war on dogs are rages with palestinian christians saying they too are being targeted. so what message says this show of unity by palestinians convey this is inside storage. the hello and welcome to the program. i'm getting you navigate them. usually bustling with visitors from around the world. bethlehem is empty. this christmas festivities are muted in the occupied westbank. as israel shows no sign of ending its onslaught in gossip is really bonds do not discriminate everything and everyone in the strip

is a target from hospitals to schools and from mosques to churches. so what methods are palestinian christian sending to the world by canceling the sierras festivities in bethlehem? we'll go to our guests in a moment. but 1st this report from michael apple. silent night on christmas eve in a square usually packed with pulled rooms and tourist. of the nativity scene showing the baby jesus and christians believe was born in bethlehem move in 2000 years ago . ult it to reflect israel as war on gaza. we put this model as you'll see, to reflect the reality. and we are sending a message to the international community and to come here to stand with us to get in cause and to force as the end to step this, aggression against overfeed from the will in gaza is rainy raids on palestinian

communities in the occupied ways bank and restrictions on movement. it's a time of sorrow and frustration, and it's taking a total of businesses that rely on the holiday season. habits cool saw the situation in bathroom, it's hard because 80 percent of the economy here depends on tourism. we're trying to keep the workshop running for the workers because they all have responsibilities . and this is all i know the address going to come here as long as it will goes on . it's terribly hard inside. it's the same in the old city of occupied east jerusalem shop. so i the shots for mt of customers regardless of this year as much different usually as a height of activity. with all the tobin sit on the fisher's very solemn horse and so many to our token and we need peace. we are looking for a piece. it's the wish many palestinian christians are praying for both in the

occupied waste bank and within gaza. since the beginning of israel's war on gaza, several christian facilities have been attacked, and christians killed to. the survivors have little to celebrate. this christmas displaced and separated from feminine body is one of about a 1000 palestinian christians. in garza, my last magazine is no one feels the holiday spirit. there won't be the usual christmas decorations or celebrations. we pray to god to end this war soon. stop these massacres. back in bethlehem. worship is a 10 midnight mess in a show of solidarity. the. the cardinal of the latin patriarch hates of jerusalem. didn't pay is traditional visits because of this year . instead his christmas message to live in in bethlehem, gaza, you will not alone. lots of band and mice level for inside story

that's not bringing our gas. joining us from bethlehem in the occupied westbank is at home john freddie, whose action 8 published on communications and advocacy coordinator, and writers on the netherlands. as frank bozeman, who's an associate professor of cultural fee, ology at the tube or a school of catholic theology and from the old city an occupied east, jerusalem were joined by sam and hughes of he's the see of the latin patriarch as of jerusalem. thank you all for joining us. a good to be with you on inside story saw me yusef, and occupied east jerusalem. tell us how you are observing christmas. i think the very sadly i must admit the business to see it is very muted. uh, even only the best sections uh on top of that belongs to resume uh, give them to continue to the conflicting does. uh and of course the lack of any

movement uh on the westbound. so it has to be one of the service that concerned the businesses that we have been with this thing and no, nothing in the long, long, long time. the best to have him yesterday. it was very sad in many ways. uh, i think that our many truck goes up to the front of down uh, including of course the collapse of the doors and sometimes uh, in particular, after around october, 2nd uh, lock mobility. people could not go into best them. i my son did not go to the message on yesterday and the check went so a couple of hours ago. so uh and of course uh the, the, uh, government suspension. uh uh, so people don't, uh, basically the excess of jobs and design, the, the lack of any salary is paid by the, the, i've seen a lot of people that make you 10001007. so if you look at it from any angle that

you wish of my home because of the disaster. so but the 2nd base, the but also once i remember last time, also sending it to the code. so all that combines really, i think the main, the beach actually that's basically gosh, are all celebrations surrounding christmas with the exception of course, of the who just set on the search place last night. what the church of, and that's right. okay, let's get the view from best. let him now were very hands off already. anyhow. every christmas. there's a huge christmas tree that's split up in bethlehem this year. that's not happening . the nativity sculpture and in bethlehem has been put together this year instead of that christmas tree. tell us about that sculpture and what message it's sending out. and thanks for having me. the yes, the home is very stuff this year. and then we joined in bethlehem to see

the 3 is, are full of visitors on products. and the starting ends in christmas to, to the are the creative bought the this the year to have the not haven't. if it is the, the best thing, any questions and the best thing is, most things are hidden, bit to him are sad and, and andre, and celebrating going up or on with this thing the christmas with being with the, what are you with this story about the what it is happening in miss in gather i'm the, was bank money or, but it's been any cris chance all for her in the him. have somebody go through that the in gather some of them. most of this is evident that the, in the with the, is there any text the thought a good chance to them, and they want to be done in data and the, so the, but it did to him thought celebrate, and same thing. get the message to the war, then dot said we'd love to celebrate. we want the word it tool tools to,

to support the sheets by us to demand the word. read a story sheets via the stop starting to think about muslims. and because tends to be able in, in data and with bank of also, and they also and, but it's too many christians feel better. what other wisdom is because they come up so many get with the little bit of friends in gather your to the it blocked off the communication and also if they suffer from the movement restriction, they come up to go event that christians who are living in victor i'm gonna go to joe who said him the other place at the end, but it's done to do is to meet with this together with the latest to do it to that addiction due to the throat is the closer embossed in different parts of the bank. right? so the message of that is dns. here is the demand, stillwater tool, in the, the sward, demantzy toyota authority to be to add to a to

b. and just as for better thing is, okay, frank as someone from abroad. how do you observe what's going on? right now in the occupied territories, and particularly, i mean, every christmas, one of the most important rituals and palestine is the procession of the patriarch from jerusalem taking place on december 24th for catholics. now, this is a tradition to stated back to the ottoman empire, and we understand this here, the procession will go on, but there won't be any festivities. there won't be any musical bands, as there usually are. every year. it's more of a silent procession. how significant is that? well, you can, you can see this so significant because usually these kinds of rituals of the roman catholic tradition also. and by the time a project for them to congress, i talked to somebody and see that there's, there's like a, almost like a religious call. there was music there a saying there are beautiful decorations, all over the city. people are long procession. so for our be people praying people seeing christian christian hands and the whole the whole the territories about

something to do with us as a patient of the faith of the night and nativity that because the, with your heart condition. so and, and, and gaza also, right, it has to be turned down of course, not only because there are a notorious on their own opens to call them, but also it's all the time for, for me because that appraisal the time to, to celebrate the life and to celebrate your religious tradition, if, if, if you are in the middle of the wall so, so of course, pressures will continue. your business will be set a branch and has been separated. also in, in, in the cause of the judge, god's office of cost. it's a time of morning, it's a time of loss on the time of happiness. unfortunately, the christmas is all right, so last feasible, joy and peace. right. so i mean use a for christmas is a national holiday for all palestinians. it's not just the christian holiday, and we understand that even the palestinian authority considers it

a national holiday. muslims traditionally to attend the parades as well. give us a sense of the unity at this time of year between the palestinian muslims and the palestinian christians. in the context of the goals or structurally, i mean this is a, is thought of many that is consistent. the national holiday does not mean from a just point of view of the cushion sort of facebook, but also how awesome uh, brothers and sisters do something great with us as well. and send this over that again. and unity and it is not on the christmas really about that too. i think signifies that unity i think good because and instead of going to use uh, the price on the back. a uh, upgrade to a network of uh, of the schools that are 44 schools that the but they didn't buy them at the turn came to the sign, 2 of them on and guys, uh, and for the most part, really the,

the majority. and that was fine, at least to all of the students, a function that most of the students and us that because the, the, the edition really is of the. so the base on the screen, the take place, a couple questions on muslims and schools on the streets itself. okay. national trust. the only day i'm that signifies the, the, i think, the, the unity and that's christian, the education, it's an advocate of social services. and it's going to take significant problems. and, and that's the cushion doesn't see the constitutional concern. the cushion, perhaps it's more pain cushion but also so just of the cushions on the, for the range to be the tell us more about it. just one more question for you. so i mean, just tell us more about the how look we understand the christians and guys a while they're smaller number. they do have an institutional presence in here.

we're just mentioning that there are 2 schools that are run by the patriarch kids there. give us a sense of what is the percentage right now of the christian community and gaza and how strong are they institutionally? as far as the number of christians, it goes on really, i mean talking about the under 1000, the christians and guys when we started before the war at 1017. and we have lost 25 people. actually since the beginning of the war, 17 of 2. yes. and what's your interest charge to get equal hopes on the building? so. so do people uh, in on the punish complex and about 5 or 6 people. uh you too many medical uh, neglect that they sent me became sick of good not against medical treatments. so that's when you're talking about 25 people. that's about 2.5 percent of the cushion population does not therefore lines as a result, then the consequences even beyond ended up the of the what about the significance

for any population? uh huh. give him about the size, the, the cushion. so these are the configurations in gaza and that's what i'm talking about because you've done it the reason and they got really in jordan as well because they've, you shows on this institution of background screening and education has got social services as a proportion confusion from the cushion now we're really into the building of societies at large. uh and if we can get got some good examples, allow them to turn it to schools that belong to the catholic. go to the circuits in particular, but there's also rosalie sisters school on the. ready church and then on to other schools cushion the nature of the school. i think the corner looks for so 5. so in total is actually in gaza. right. and the percentage of mission population, there's no more than i would imagine 5 or some combined. so 95 percent of our students it goes on the, the most of them students and so, you know,

they appreciate that that you sent that this kathlyn christian education i think brings the as the bottom of the educational process. the and frank last spring and frank franklin, we ask you this with the dwindling numbers of christians in gaza in particular, if we just focus on gaza for a moment. and obviously, i mean, human rights organizations are saying that as real as bombing indiscriminately, and they're bombing civilians. and that includes all palestinians and gaza. but if we specifically look at the christians now who say they are being targeted, their, their, their hospitals are being targeted as well as their churches. do you fear that the christian community is at risk of extinction because of this war? well, i think that the price is the pressure to say the least a birthday is a very difficult. there are a lot of countries where christians can live in relative peace, upside down. there are couple of conference in the middle east by the patient. presence is already another message, that's pressure. and this,

this was involved raging on and off as of goal was of course, very bad news for the population. the already small population operations in uh, been gone. i'm, there are problems with difficult places to be found. they're connected to the questionnaire differently to getting close to the truck and the 15. it would be a very yeah for you because you for, for all the people and god of especially for, for christians. because we have so many people. that's the song star key and that's got to be the relevant to be there. we haven't been there so long to that because this place for christ believes that long. so it would be it would be an historical trinity. and i'm trying to see if it's purchased, which seems to exist in, in god. oh, okay. one more for here before i bring under home, but do you think that the christian community, i mean here speak to us from the netherlands, from what you see in sort of the in europe in the western world. do you think that the christian community is speaking out enough when it comes to the attacks against

christians in gaza as well as what we're seeing happening in the occupied westbank in terms of the strikes and the blockades and, and the, the effective apartheid there. i think that's i'm saying that the christians in modern days have uh maybe and forgotten how they should to come up for both a brother and in, in the face. so christians in the west are most probably common to stand up for those. what point does cutest is not a boss? also will might be north korea or china or in the or in the middle east. so there isn't a lot of them. is much outcry for all the victims of the come fix on both sides of the conflict. but there is not so much attention to the position of the christians in, in, in this conflict it's not considered to be a very newsworthy kind of item. so there's not, not so much attention, but we should be more. yeah. and i mean, as we say the,

the attacks and the strikes in gaza, or in fact targeting everybody and not to, according to human rights organizations, as well as many people that we spoken to here at alpha 0. uh huh. let me bring you in the deputy mayor of jerusalem or earlier this week she was giving an interview to media. and she claimed that there are no christians or churches in gaza saying that they were driven out by him us. when you hear such statements, what does it make you think? and what's your response to that statement is oh and response to the degree and, and i'm feeling a, the, the statement of your, the gusts and there is a lot of them, 1000 degrees chance in the, in guides on many projects in with the bank and this that are to have just been out of scores that are existence. and then i would remind you one of the, one of the victims who is um, usually send it home. but who was killed in this in war by. it's either right. and

then also she was more and she loved the muddy. i'm the head of the achievements and he exists in music and he music cheap month was sage, and achieved on highlighted by monday, but his team and, and the to show it that's the biggest thing. and it goes just in gazda an existing and are going to do think the single best thing is to say to the good think openness to dish and, and they are the very, to speak to, to be part of the community in gazda. and they have many achievements, they are being targeted other they bought to population in gather. i'm already home for those who might be wondering just tell us how old is the christian presence in gaza? good to have oh they are living today and 4 digits for of of the form that gives them a hungry associates. i don't have the exact and okay, just how, how,

how long they have been living did, but they are barked, but it's genie on. or did you not history in the, in gather and they have a good legacy. i've got history and a good, a cheap rent in addition, and they would, there are many, but it's teen in regards to contributed on nation, not delivered just i'm going to go live a to, but it's to me in the history to. but as deanna is civilization, i mean, i'm the, i'd love that the bid ottoman in, for example, this, but it's doing its human and use, it shows your home. but i was a lot of that as being any cause chance who is no on forehead legacy, forehead music for here on the forehead. contribution interesting and community in get stuff so we cannot ignore and that and see that they love except they are, they exist and they have a good click as big and they have an origin of history there in gas. all. okay, so i mean religious and 8 organizations have been sending coordinates,

they say to the u. n, as well as to israel. since the war and garza started in october, but at the same time we've seen israel continued to conduct the operations and continued to strike religious sites as well as hospitals. you'll remember the, the strike on the and the baptist hospital earlier in the war. what is your reaction to these places being hit in this way? and i think one of the great, so actually because indeed we have done what we needed to do from day one of the war. but the coordinates of all day, the churches in particular, the churches, all the government and monica, the constitutions, uh, uh, the next word word provided to both parties. so i know many different groups of these are, you know, kind of key is fun to us in the united states and all of the about the come and the only see until very smooth media and media does as well. so the coordinate,

those are whether or not in many ways and i'm explaining. busy they need to see that on the cushion institutions, of course, and with the sort of institutions and that we have to care for them. and we have to ensure that, you know, the safety of the people that the future in our institutions is bizarre. but, but the gordon, it's a very well known, i think, the very science 80, to see that the, you know, in the particular way, not only the in the, because of us, but also the women that working on the premises of the and when it comes to the church inside the church, homebound in addition to the, i think the strikes to the generally the, the, the fuel down right next to him, which is adjacent to the target. so again, the 60 and recapture done the presidents, the as part of the so the, so let me just ask you this. um, if you don't mind when, when your organization sends coordinates to you, say that is really is as well as

b u. n. and even the americans, what kind of response do you get? if you get a response at all? if we don't get the response under the sponsors that they are aware of and that is given to the team and them to every every because i'm going to be they can not tomorrow civilians. i'm the are these institutions. but this is what i'm more states have, but i'm just judgment that balance and was i'm, this is the, the response that we usually get. right. okay. a frank just to pick up on a point that you were noting a few moments ago you were talking about the christian presence, in fact, in the region and not only in gaza, the archbishop, off on the head, not from the greek orthodox church in jerusalem. back in 2021. he said that the number of christians emigrating from the middle east has reached unprecedented levels. and he called to preserve this important components in the region. in your opinion, what does the disappearance of the christian elements or the dwindling of the christian elements from palestine mean for the country itself?

and also for the region, all the things on the israel and the senior is one of the places where people from the 3 ever medics phase can prove that they need one of the couple of days to get the bottom of them. so if christians muslims, and use cannot find a way to get together, especially in terms of learning about simon and last, throughout the place of a sudden pull and falls free unassisted additions, then, well, then it gets to help the rest of the world. so andrew, israel as a bonus, points of the in semester and it just attention always has been a challenge for always be a, that's fine. and if what else, it's really what happened to disappear altogether from from israel co sign is what mean? well, the to suggest that the only way that the 3 month testing experience is gonna work together was one of them disappeared. so maybe untrue them disappearance would be

such a shame for only uh, apartment, 6 pages. but for, for humanity as a whole, we must find a way to look at this together and peas, a home can you weigh in on this. so in your opinion, what does the, the dwindling numbers of this religious group in the region mean for diversity of the region? so this the means that the, that the of the many, the political factors, the mainly the occupation of the commission bonuses in the, in that, in back to the immigration of the, in the village. just i'm not of interest to groups and there are many that is doing and young people, including most of the christians. oh uh i said look for immigration from but it's fine. and the from guest on the from was bank due to that invitation to deal with the lack of older,

tentative to deal with the political situation. so this means that the and they are affected or the current and the continuous, the blockade embossed in gas up and was bank distinction. and this means that that is danielle, a young people investing in. so i mean, it's totally great or leaving to buy this time and they and they are not interested in the immigration. the other got this book. they want to seek another place where they could find the better living or but the condition to live at this. this is an indication for immigration, different in spots of the better thing as society outside, but it's time. so i'm in here. so if with you, give us the final word on your final thoughts on this topic. the store, right? i think uh the only that wouldn't be a very sense base if the cushion because uh this abuse and i would like to cancel

things on the value. so maybe the, the condition that you sent me is one of your loan forgiveness and coexist samsung and respect and loving these. and then this message really focus that for the rest of the some of the situations through the service as a whole, new institutions on vacation services. that message doesn't change during final course. so even though the final format message remains the same, as the best message disappears from the scene, what is the other message that today we are on the seats and the bench i'm off coming up on instruction, that's all i'm and so, so you need, you honestly name the message that's more than anything message really to remain as part of the most saying or going into the would be a very, very sad face. if this impression the presence disappears and my home really the, the presence reduced last me into stronger institutions on the various churches that are providing the services. once the support is over,

they also i would like to see the stronger mission business and the one your number, then the diminished okay. on that. no it's, we'll leave it there. thank you so much for joining us. sort of home as off id. thank you frank. bozeman, we appreciate your time, and so i'm in use of thanks very much. thanks for watching. you can see the program again any time by visiting our website, delta 0 dot com for further discussion. you can go to our facebook page, dots, facebook dot com, forward slash inside story. you can join the conversation on x or handle is a j inside story from myself and the whole team here. and so how, thanks for watching bye for enough, the the

explorer 2023. the world, the fascination to join us and let's discover a better world expo 2023. the ha ha

ha ha ha rahman you want to me? i'll just it renews online for my headquarters here in the us, coming up in the next 60 minutes. greece despite in the us of more than $100.00 palestinians, are killed at the massage the refugee comes after. one of the deadliest is rarely strikes since the war began. smoke cries, they've an old and.