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ECONOMYNEXT – Pope Francis said the ‘Prince of Peace’ has once again been rejected in Bethlehem as the city Christians believe to be the birthplace of Jesus remained tense under Israeli occupation and thousands of children were killed in the Gaza strip.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem as there was ‘no room at the inn’ for the pregnant Mary.
“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,” Pope Francis said delivering his Christmas homily.
Bethlehem in is the West Bank, an area occupied by Israel in 1967 and has also seen Jewish settlement which along with expelling of Palestinians which critics have pointed out of is the same as Hitler’s key strategy of lebensraum or expanding the living space for his people.
The 1967 ‘Six Day War’ came after a series of actions initiated by Egypt against Israel including against shipping.
Gaza was also occupied as was Golan heights. About 300,000 Palestinians and 100,000 Syrians are estimated to have been expelled or fled.
The international community considers the Jewish settlements illegal.
The latest war on Gaza and rising reports of harassment and intimidation of civilians in the West Bank, came after Hamas, the ruling group in the Gaza strip made and incursion into Israel, killing hundreds of civilians and taking hostages.
Israeli retaliation has since killed around 20,000 in Gaza most of them women and children.
“Intense Israeli bombardment and ground operations continue,” UN Secretary General António Guterres said in December 22.
“More than 20,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, the vast majority women and children.
Gaza’s Hamas run government media office said at least 8,000 children and 6,200 women have been killed.
World Health Organization (WHO), spokesperson Margaret Harris said staff in Gaza spoke of not even being able to walk in the emergency wards “for fear of stepping on people” lying on the floor “in severe pain” and asking for food and water.
Israel has also shelled hospitals, disregarding rules of war.
The US, whose credibility as a guardian of rules based world order has been dented due to its support for Israel excesses has called the bombings indiscriminate.
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