Bethlehem

Yesterday marked Deported Palestinians’ Day, commemorating the anniversary of the siege of the Church of the Nativity 10 years ago.

Being a Muslim, I never celebrated Christmas myself, but having lots of Christian friends inside and outside Palestine has connected me to this day. I’ve always shared it with them one way or another, since I believe that religion shouldn’t stand as a barrier between human beings. Here, I describe how I celebrated Christmas and how Christians in Gaza celebrate it. I recall some of my childhood memories from my only visit to the Church of Nativity since I was 9 years old.

Bethlehem, the city of peace and the birthplace of Jesus Christ, has become a ghetto in the world we know today thanks to the Israeli occupation. With over 23 physical barriers surrounding the city, apartheid wall cutting through its outskirts, and settlements strangling the city of Bethlehem from all directions, the idea of living there or even visiting this holy city has become an unpleasant and dreadful idea.

A story of the amazing friendship of Chris Al-Bandak, the only Christian released in the prisoner swap, who was deported to Gaza. According to Chris, “Only one half of me is free, but the other half is still there, locked up behind Israeli bars.”

A photo published by The New York Times depicts an undercover Israeli agent, dressed as a Palestinian civilian, being loaded into an Israeli police vehicle after “helping detain a Palestinian protester” during today’s Nakba anniversary protest at Qalandiya checkpoint between Ramallah and Bethlehem.