Page 19 - North Star 2024

5 Source: The New York Times
“God is under the rubble in Gaza, this is where we find God right now,” said Reverend Munther Isaac, the outspoken pastor of the church.
Christian observances in the region have taken a subtly different approach to protesting the genocide than Muslim celebrations like Ramadan. The Islamic communities, which make up the vast majority of Gazans, have showcased their resilience by continuing to observe Ramadan and doing what they can to practice their culture despite the ceaseless bombing of their home. Christian communities, which make up a smaller portion of Gaza but are much more prominent in neighboring regions like Jerusalem and Bethlehem, have instead opted to cancel their celebrations in a show of solidarity with Palestinians. In both cases, however, the cultural importance of religious faith has been underscored to make a broader point about the ongoing genocide and protest the attacks of the foreign occupiers. Both communities have expressed outrage and resistance through expressions of faith and religious customs. In a region of the world that is so deeply entrenched in Abrahamic tradition-- and is the birthplace of it-- such expression is vital and has a profound and lasting impact.
As the prominent Christian Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist Jonathan Kuttab penned in his moving essay in Truthout: “Perhaps that is the message of both Easter and Ramadan. It’s one not just of peace — but also justice. It’s the true prayer of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and all of Palestine/Israel. It’s the hope that springs eternal — that aer a dark, cold winter of suffering and distress, there will one day be a spring of life, resurrection and peace for all of God’s children in this land we call Holy.”