During the Christmas period, religious leaders and figures expressed deep concern over the conflict in Gaza. Reverend Munther Isaac, preaching in Bethlehem, criticized the global inaction towards the situation in Gaza, calling it a genocide and stating, “If you are not appalled by what is happening in Gaza…there is something wrong with your humanity.” Sara Netanyahu, wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continued her diplomatic efforts and reached out to Pope Francis, seeking his influence to urge Hamas to release hostages in Gaza. In his Christmas Eve mass, Pope Francis made an appeal for peace, decrying the 'futile logic of war' and calling for an immediate ceasefire and the freeing of hostages. The Jordanian Royal Air Force air-dropped supplies to over 500 Palestinian Christians in Gaza, where two women were killed by an Israeli sniper, an act Pope Francis labeled as terrorism. The conflict has led to the loss of over 9,000 children and the displacement of 1.9 million Palestinians, with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac condemning the Western hypocrisy and church complicity.
Pope Francis posts political Christmas message amid Israel-Hamas war https://t.co/XLvh9iHneX
Pope Francis appealed for worldwide peace and chided those who profit off war in his annual Christmas Day address from St. Peter’s Square. "How can we even speak of peace, when arms production, sales and trade are on the rise?" https://t.co/yUUQRNyLbG
Pope calls for end of military operations in Gaza in Christmas message https://t.co/NFCRczqUWy https://t.co/ffRsvpYT7W
"We will recover. But for those who are complicit I feel sorry for you. Will you ever recover from this?" Dr. Munther Isaac delivers a powerful Liturgy in Bethlehem today. https://t.co/4Z8hNJJ0I8
Pope Francis said in his Christmas message that children dying in wars, including in Gaza, are the 'little Jesuses of today' and that Israeli strikes there were reaping an 'appalling harvest' of innocent civilians https://t.co/QwN4MN3Gbw https://t.co/eZgL4D7Ry8
Pope Francis appeals for peace in his Christmas Day message https://t.co/ZU5Ffi8wRC
Pope Francis devoted his Christmas Day blessing to a call for peace in the world, noting that the biblical story of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem sent a message of peace https://t.co/92bwiof2aR
Pope Francis denounces gun industry, mourns Bethlehem as "place of sorrow" in Christmas appeal for peace https://t.co/yLAd09lcVL
In Christmas Day message, pope decries Gaza's 'appalling harvest' of civilian deaths https://t.co/OTIO8opMP3
Giving his Christmas address, Pope Francis laments the "appalling" loss of life in Gaza. He implores Hamas to release the hostages and Netanyahu to stop his (war crime) bombing of Palestinian civilians. https://t.co/WWYJPWAKRK
Pope blasts Israel-Hamas conflict and says Jesus has been 'rejected' in favour of war https://t.co/KvfM2dJV1F
"I wish you a Christmas of peace on earth, and goodwill to all. Today, and always." The King concludes his Christmas message noting the 'increasingly tragic conflict around the world'. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/rATEakxnvQ
🎄 The King delivers his Christmas message from the room behind the Buckingham Palace balcony - Watch live with Sky News here 👇 📱 https://t.co/Ll2iMfZnaO 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/XgKOHzz69Q
Live Updates: Pope focuses on Israel-Hamas war in Christmas message https://t.co/IbriWoHFcr
Pope Francis laments violence in Gaza, Ukraine during annual Christmas speech, call for peace https://t.co/vhP4qMj9PF
On Christmas eve, Pope Francis laments 'futile' war in Holy Land https://t.co/gJCz7zHWPe via @rapplerdotcom
Pope Francis says 'hearts are in Bethlehem' where Jesus is 'rejected by the futile logic of war' "They are the little Jesuses of today, these little ones whose childhood has been devastated by war," Francis said. Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/XfwoCsDBfQ
Pope Francis asked for peace for Middle East, Karabakh and Ukraine in Christmas message - Vatican News The pontiff said his "heart grieves for the victims of the terrible attack of October 7," and repeated his "urgent appeal for the release of the hostages." "I pray for peace… https://t.co/D6Ixm0xQww
Pope calls for end to wars in Gaza, Ukraine as world celebrates Christmas https://t.co/Q8eHkYsOPN . Click to read ⬇️
ICYMI: Pope Francis has kicked off global #Christmas celebrations with a call for peace, as #Israel’s war on #Hamas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cast a shadow over one of the world’s favorite holidays. https://t.co/0p1MwUB8OH
Live update: In Christmas message, pope calls for Gaza ceasefire and freeing of all hostages https://t.co/m17auWqjOW . Click to read ⬇️
Pope Francis on Monday deplored the desperate humanitarian situation of Palestinians in Gaza and called for an immediate ceasefire and the freeing of hostages in his Christmas message ➡️ https://t.co/beS6ry5z4Q https://t.co/b0FjUy6HFa
"Let us pray for peace in Palestine and Israel" Pope Francis speaks about the Israel-Hamas war during his Christmas message at the Vatican https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/OcM1g41ucr
"Today the world's darkness has been overcome by the light of God which enlightens every man and woman" Pope Francis is delivering his Christmas message at the Vatican https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/gZVN73XaCv
Pope Francis opened Christmas celebrations with a message for peace in the Holy Land amid Israel's deadliest-ever war on Gaza https://t.co/PLnWZ08med https://t.co/9BJW7e0Bam
#PopeFrancis has kicked off global #Christmas celebrations with a call for peace, as Israel’s war on Hamas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cast a shadow over one of the world’s favorite holidays. https://t.co/0p1MwUB8OH
'The time of Christmas is a time of hope, joy and peace despite everything that is happening around us' The Archbishop of Jerusalem speaks to Sky News ⬇️ https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/COnz3U0S6J
Sara Netanyahu appeals to Pope Francis to help free Gaza hostages | Click on 📷 "Seventy-eight days after the atrocities, Hamas is still holding 129 men, women and children hostages." @Jerusalem_Post @netanyahu #BringThemHomeNow https://t.co/Nw1YtdW52U
“Tonight, our hearts are in #Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world. #Christmas,” wrote #PopeFrancis. https://t.co/A0o58VDcqy
“Gaza today has become the moral compass of the world… If you fail to call this a genocide, that’s on you. It is a sin & a darkness you willingly embrace. Some have not even called for a ceasefire— I’m talking about churches.” @MuntherIsaac preaching in Bethlehem
Pope Francis says Jesus’ message of peace is being drowned out by ‘futile logic of war’ https://t.co/MFmMKrKHhG
Recalling Jesus' birth in a stable in Bethlehem, Pope Francis in a Christmas Eve homily said that "the clash of arms even today" prevents Jesus "from finding room in the world." https://t.co/Up7xhky8vJ
Pope Francis laments 'futile' war in Holy Land on Christmas Eve https://t.co/leuk63QzJo https://t.co/NZVKI2YAj1
Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable in Bethlehem, Pope Francis in a Christmas Eve homily said that “the clash of arms even today" prevents Jesus “from finding room in the world.” https://t.co/ateZhLJbLa
Recalling Jesus’ birth in a stable in Bethlehem, Pope Francis in a Christmas Eve homily said that “the clash of arms even today” prevents Jesus “from finding room in the world.” https://t.co/ob96SI4mP5
'Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war' https://t.co/X7IpXQUZFf
BREAKING: Pope Francis says 'our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war' and that 'we are thinking of Palestine, of Israel, of Ukraine'
Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world. #Christmas
Pope Francis says hearts are in Bethlehem amid ongoing war — report in @CNN “Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war” https://t.co/oF1tdZWNI4 https://t.co/iTPEwLD7Yb
Live update: ‘Thinking of Palestine, of Israel’: Pope’s Christmas addresses overshadowed by war https://t.co/V9VkFPnVUM . Click to read ⬇️
On this Christmas Eve, Jordanian Royal Air Force air-dropped supplies to over 500 Palestinian Christians besieged by Israel at the Holy Family Parish in Gaza. Two women sheltering there were killed by an Israeli sniper few days ago. Pope Francis described the shooting terrorism. https://t.co/VTPNkwyrS8
'Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem': Pope Francis appeal for peace during Christmas Eve mass - as he decries 'futile logic of war' as conflict rages on in Gaza https://t.co/UNBguXSky5 https://t.co/qbznA81mJf
On Christmas eve, Pope Francis laments 'futile' war in Holy Land https://t.co/RnljEAApqt https://t.co/n5KeaYWjmB
Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac criticises global inaction on Gaza at Bethlehem's Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church. He highlights the loss of over 9,000 children and 1.9 million displaced Palestinians, condemning Western hypocrisy and church complicity. https://t.co/LoSp3VuLtg
Mrs. Sara Netanyahu is continuing her diplomatic efforts for the release of our hostages, and has sent an official letter to Pope Francis this evening, asking for his assistance in the efforts to release our hostages who are being held by Hamas-ISIS in Gaza. https://t.co/5VbNwuEsnJ
Sara Netanyahu has called upon Pope Francis to exert influence on Hamas and urge the terrorist organization to release hostages in Gaza. #SaraNetanyahu | #PopeFrancis | #IsraelHamasWar @MaayanJaffe https://t.co/Im6RICzur0
Live update: Netanyahu’s wife urges Pope Francis to demand release of all hostages in Gaza https://t.co/oGx52RJc6V . Click to read ⬇️
A Christmas message from Rev. @MuntherIsaac. “If you are not appalled by what is happening in Gaza…there is something wrong with your humanity… we, the Palestinian people, will recover… but for those who are complicit, I feel sorry for you. Will you ever recover from this?” https://t.co/oNdhg1YLgL
“Gaza today has become the moral compass of the world… If you fail to call this a genocide, that’s on you. It is a sin & a darkness you willingly embrace. Some have not even called for a ceasefire— I’m talking about churches.” Rev. Munther Isaac, preaching in Bethlehem 12/23 https://t.co/kEqfjp0KFq