Gaza

Christmas 2025: seeking light in deepening shadows

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Holding space for peace when the world is holding its breath


Seasonal greetings arrive again, wishing us a Merry Christmas 2025. They speak of joy, magic, and gratitude. Yet for many, these words echo against hunger, displacement, or the constant sound of artillery. The world feels increasingly unstable, and war has become part of our daily language.

So the question lingers: where do we look for light when the shadows stretch so long? And what does it mean to celebrate when celebration can feel fragile, even out of place?

This year, the distance between the festive image and global reality feels especially wide. Gaza continues to endure unspeakable devastation and starvation. The war in Ukraine grinds on, with renewed violence in recent days. Sudan, too, is sinking into catastrophe, forcing millions into hunger and exile. These are not distant tragedies; they are humanitarian failures unfolding in real time.

A girl wearing powder pink shorts, a red oversized wool sweater, and green elf-style long socks cuddles a white bear in a snowy background with a few trees, among which are one Palestinian and one Ukrainian flag. Santa Claus stands, sending light towards the flags. Wishing a Merry Christmas 2025.
Merry Christmas 2025


In such a landscape, the core questions of Christmas — peace, hope, goodwill — risk sounding naive. Yet perhaps they are not sentimental at all, but quietly radical.

Not as slogans. Not as forced cheer. But as choices.

Perhaps the light we seek is not found in denial or forced joy, but in attention. In the decision to pause, to stay present with what is painful, and to refuse indifference. To hold sorrow and still choose empathy. To recognise that caring, today, is an active choice.

This Christmas, holding space can be an act of resistance in itself. A pause. A listening. A willingness to remain human in the face of what dehumanises.

To support humanitarian workers, to advocate, to bear witness — these are small gestures measured against vast suffering, yet they matter. They are how peace survives not as a wish, but as a practice.

In solidarity, in sorrow, and in stubborn hope,

Merry Christmas 2025

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Genocide in Gaza – Report by two Israeli NGOs confirms

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Decades of evidence, ignored by the world. Now, Israeli NGOs break the silence.


It’s Genocide in Gaza. For the first time, two of Israel’s most prominent human rights NGOs—B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights—have done what no government will:

They’ve named the crime.

“This is genocide.”

Not violence. Not conflict. Genocide. Deliberate. Systematic. Documented.

“We never imagined we would have to write this report. But Israel is committing genocide.”

This conclusion comes after decades of gathering data, testimonies, interviews, and documents. It comes in the form of two reports that expose what many governments prefer to ignore. And most importantly, it comes from within Israel itself, breaking the wall of silence.

It's genocide in gaza. Child’s black silhouette waves a vibrant Palestinian flag, colors fading—‘Free Palestine’ in red and green demands an end to genocide.

B’Tselem titles its report: “Our Genocide.”

Via Amnesty International:

“B’Tselem’s report is based on decades of extensive work documenting Israel’s violations of international law and the impunity shielding it. The findings on the occupied West Bank—including Israel’s campaign of forced displacement—are particularly shocking and underscore the urgent need to demand that Israel not only halt the genocide but also end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and dismantle its apartheid system.

The report by Physicians for Human Rights Israel extensively documents Israel’s intentional and systematic destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system. Examining attacks on medical facilities, the targeting of healthcare workers, and the blockade of medical supplies, it makes clear that the devastation in Gaza is not merely collateral damage of war but part of a deliberate, calculated policy to destroy Palestinian lives, constituting genocide.”

Genocide in Gaza – The evidence Israel’s Government tried to bury


Their reports—based on decades of evidence—expose:

  • 36 hospitals destroyed
  • 1,500 healthcare workers killed (300 more arrested, tortured, “disappeared”)
  • Children starved to death as Israel blocks food and medicine
  • Entire neighbourhoods erased, families buried in rubble
  • Starvation as a weaponForced displacement as policyApartheid as law.

It tells of children left to die without food or care, of entire cities reduced to rubble. It speaks of starvation, forced evacuations, and the systematic denial of the most basic rights.

This isn’t war. This is annihilation, backed by the U.S., Europe, and the silence of the so-called “international community.”

So the question is: What are European institutions waiting for? What are global institutions waiting for? What is the Italian government waiting for? Why hasn’t Italy even suspended its military agreements with Israel?

Giorgia Meloni claims to be a “mother” and a “Christian”, yet in the face of endless slaughter, she does absolutely nothing. Is this what being a mother and a Christian means to her?

These accusations come from two of Israel’s most respected humanitarian organisations. Not from Hamas or so-called”antisemites.”

We must raise our voices together and demand:

🔴 The Italian government suspends all military and cooperation agreements with Israel
🔴 Sanctions. Arms embargoes. Prosecutions for war criminals.
🔴 Full recognition of Palestine—no more empty gestures.

We must unite to urge the international community to intervene and stop the atrocities.

STOP THE GENOCIDE.

Doing nothing is complicity.

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Gaza: May 15 – 77 Years since the Nakba

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The world watches as Israel commits genocide against Palestinians


In Gaza, we are witnessing Israel commit genocide against Palestinians, while the world stands still. Few speak out. Only Spain and South Africa have dared to act.

May 15 marks 77 years since the Nakba—a catastrophe whose consequences still unfold before our eyes. But we’re not just remembering history; we’re watching it repeat.

Children are starving. People are dying. We cannot remain silent in the face of such suffering.

In 1948, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee their homes, displaced with no hope of return. Many still hold onto the keys to those homes, clinging to the dream of returning one day.

This event, remembered every year on May 15, is known as the Nakba—the catastrophe.

Now, 77 years later, history repeats itself.

Thousands in the occupied Gaza Strip have once again been forced to abandon their homes—most of which have been destroyed by Israeli bombings. In the occupied West Bank, forced displacements by Israeli forces and settlers continue, as documented in No Other Land, a powerful film shedding light on life in Masafer Yatta.

Recent alarming statements from Israeli officials suggest a clear intention: to occupy Gaza and forcibly displace its population.

Gaza: Silence is complicity


Amnesty International has already denounced these actions as genocide and protested in Rome against the Italian government’s silence.

Genocide,” as defined by the UN, refers to acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.

South Africa has formally accused Israel of genocide, backed by extensive evidence. This is not vague or debatable—it is the worst crime under international law.

During Eurovision 2025, Spanish television defied the veto and sent a message of solidarity with Gaza:

“When human rights are at stake, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine.”

Yes, Spain is right: silence is complicity.

Watch again the video we shared in 2023 by Dr. Gabor Maté—it’s still incredibly relevant.

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Christmas 2024: Festivity Amidst Global Struggles

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Searching for the magic in a world overwhelmed by adversity


Every email we receive wishes us a Merry Christmas 2024 or a joyful Holiday Season. They celebrate the magic of these days, brimming with joy and gratitude for the year that draws to a close. But where is this magic in the world around us? Can nativity under the devastation of bombs make sense?

Regardless of one’s faith, spiritual perspective, or personal values, the essence of Christmas seems to slip further away with each passing year. Instead of bringing solace, the festive season often leaves many adrift, caught between hope and bewilderment.

This year has been no exception. Once again, we’ve witnessed profound atrocities: the heartbreaking loss of innocent lives, such as children in Gaza, and the ongoing genocide of Palestinians.

This is not war. This is cruelty. I want to say this because it touches my heart,” Pope Francis lamented.

Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine rages on. Poverty continues its alarming rise, deepening inequalities and divisions in our societies. At the same time, mass consumerism marches forward, heedless of the devastation it inflicts on both people and the planet. In fact, 2024 has been a terrible year for our climate and ecology.

It’s hard to ignore the harsh reality of a world increasingly driven by greed and indifference, where the pursuit of money is all that matters.

In the face of such adversity, it’s difficult to find the magic of Christmas. Yet, it is precisely during tough times that humanity must rediscover its commonalities. Perhaps the true message of this season lies not in fleeting moments of joy but in something deeper: a collective reflection. A chance to seek out what unites us and reignite a sense of shared purpose and hope.

If we turn our focus to values that truly matter—kindness, understanding, and mutual support—we may begin to bridge the gaps in our fractured world.

As we celebrate this season, let us pause. Let us listen, connect, and seek to understand. Most importantly, let us reassess our priorities. Let us remember the atrocities surrounding us and reflect on how our collective actions and choices can create ripples of change. 

Donating to humanitarian organizations working to restore humanity in places where there’s no trace of it may not offer glamour, but it will remind you of what it means to be human.

Peace is the only answer.

Merry Christmas 2024!

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Global Turmoil and Traditions

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Christmas 2023: we are furious!


Amidst global turmoil, embracing traditions entails focusing on our core values. Unfortunately, hypocrisy feels heavy these days.

Christmas once symbolised profound meaning. However, over time, it has devolved into a season of excess: the most wasteful time of the year. A season marked by overconsumption and wastefulness. Yet, lately, the festive spirit feels different. In fact, this year, the sadness of the stark realities of the world around us overshadows it.

Heart-wrenching accounts of the war in Gaza and the conflict in Ukraine fill the news, each report detailing lives lost and families shattered. The weight of these events hangs over the holiday season, dimming joy and merriment.

If, at large, promoting the show of opulence in the fashion industry feels hollow, in the face of such tragedies becomes totally pointless. Indeed, we find it out of place. So, expect no such things from us.

James Elder: “I’m furious” speech


But we want to share the voice of James Elder UNICEF Global Spokesperson. As his “I’m furious,” speech resonates with many.

via Middle East Eye

“I’m furious that those with power shrug at the humanitarian nightmares unleashed on a million children. I’m furious that children who are recovering from amputations in hospitals are then killed in those hospitals. I’m furious that there are more children hiding as we speak somewhere, who will no doubt be hit and have amputations in the coming days. I’m furious that of all the senseless attacks, the only admittance of dumb is the use of dumb bombs. I’m furious that disease is as well-armed as the warring parties, but it gets absolutely no attention.
And I’m furious that Christmas is likely to bring increased savagery and attacks as the world is distracted with its own, you know, love and goodwill. I’m furious that now we’re at 5.000, 6.000, 7.000 children killed, and they’re becoming statistics and not storiesI’m furious at the hypocrisy crushing empathy, and yeah, to a degree, I’m furious at myself for not being able to do more.”

It is a cry for humanity, urging immediate steps toward peace and protection for the most vulnerable. In fact, we need decisive action to end the senseless suffering and destruction that have turned the affected areas into a living nightmare. 

Amidst this global turmoil, embracing traditions feels hypocritical. So, our Merry Christmas wishes are a call to action for peace: let’s not bury pain in Gaza beneath our Christmas lights.

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