Staff Reports
Christmas in the Holy Land had a different atmosphere this year, with a somber tone attributed to recent events involving Hamas. The group, known for controversial actions, carried out an attack on Israel a few months ago, resulting in the tragic loss of 1,200 lives – marking the bloodiest day in the country's history since the Holocaust.
However, this festive season also saw political controversy, with figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others from the progressive Squad engaging in discussions that blurred geographical facts. Ocasio-Cortez, in a Christmas Eve Instagram story, posted a Nativity scene in ruins with a misplaced narrative, erroneously connecting violence to modern-day Palestine and claiming right-wing forces were occupying Bethlehem. The factual error here is that there is no "modern-day Palestine," and Bethlehem is in the West Bank, not Gaza.
Of Course the Squad Politicized Christmas https://t.co/hwfGElmlPS
— America, Amen. Tim Sumner ?? (@SgtTim911) December 27, 2023
The Squad's Rep. Ilhan Omar also contributed to the discourse by sharing a clip about Palestinian Christians abstaining from Christmas celebrations, accompanied by a statement suggesting that if Jesus were born today, it would be under Gaza's rubble. These statements, however, revealed a lack of accurate geography knowledge about the Holy Land.
Even CNN's Vatican Correspondent, Christopher Lamb, joined the conversation, asserting that if Jesus were born today, it would be in Gaza under rubble. This perspective has sparked the trending hashtag "Blame Hamas" on social media. The ongoing rejection of a ceasefire agreement by Hamas raises questions about the focus on those calling for peace.
In conclusion, it appears that some individuals involved in these discussions could benefit from a refresher on Holy Land geography. Perhaps it's time to steer away from the politicization of Christmas and refocus on spreading joy and goodwill instead of misinformation and confusion.
