Church celebrates Christmas amid the horrors of Israel’s war in Gaza. Israel-Palestine conflict news

Church celebrates Christmas amid the horrors of Israel’s war in Gaza. Israel-Palestine conflict news

Dozens of worshipers gathered at Holy Family Church in Gaza City as Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and other priests celebrated mass. The shining Christmas tree was decorated with golden ornaments.

“I want…to tell you that the whole world, not just the Christian world, the whole world is with you. So the war will end and we will rebuild,” the cardinal said, urging people in Gaza to never fear.

His visit came as Pope Francis again criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza. He said on Saturday that his envoys had been unable to enter the area due to Israeli bombardment.

“Yesterday, children were bombed. This is cruelty, this is not war,” Francis said in his address. On Sunday he called for a ceasefire.

The Pope recently called for an investigation to determine whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide, a conclusion that Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reached. The International Court of Justice is investigating genocide allegations made by South Africa against Israel.

Israel rejects such allegations. It says it is at war only with Hamas, but campaigners say most of the more than 45,000 people killed have been civilians.

Since 2013, the Vatican has recognized the State of Palestine, with which it maintains diplomatic relations, and it supports a two-state solution.

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