Wed Dec 24 12:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Gazan Christians Celebrate Christmas with Hope Amidst Rubble, Call for Lasting Peace

GAZA/LONDON – After enduring two years of war, the small Christian community in Gaza is preparing for Christmas with a renewed sense of hope, marking the first holiday season since a fragile ceasefire took effect more than two months ago. Despite widespread destruction, with over 80% of structures in Gaza damaged, rare displays of festive decorations are appearing amidst the rubble, symbolizing a desire for a “new beginning,” according to local Christian leaders.

Mousa Ayyad, coordinator of Princess Basma, a Christian center in Gaza, emphasized that this Christmas is not just a religious ritual but a celebration of hope for lasting peace and stability in the region. The center, located within the only Christian hospital in Gaza, Al-Ahli Hospital, is working to create a welcoming atmosphere for children, even as many remain displaced.

The Holy Family Church, the only Catholic church in Gaza, though damaged, remains a central gathering place for the community. Since the start of the war following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, almost half of Gaza’s Christian population has left, and at least 23 have died. Approximately 500 remain, with most currently sheltering within the church walls.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, led his first prayer in Gaza since the ceasefire at the Holy Family Church on Sunday, calling it a “new phase.” He baptized a baby and administered first communion to children, continuing a tradition he has upheld during past Christmas visits.

While acknowledging the “catastrophic” conditions in Gaza, including widespread poverty and damage to housing, schools, and hospitals, Pizzaballa highlighted the resilience of the Palestinian people as a lesson to the world.

Despite the joy of the season, the scars of war remain. George Messaqo, an 11-year-old displaced Christian, expressed happiness, but also longing for pre-war Christmases with more family and a “warmer atmosphere.” He lamented the loss of his aunt and the separation from other family members now living abroad, hoping for a future where he can reunite with loved ones and live in peace.

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