Christmas in the Park, a San Jose tradition celebrating community and Christmas. This year, Palestinian Christians are seeking a deeper purpose: breaking the silence surrounding the genocide in Gaza, apartheid in the West Bank, and suffering in the Holy Land. We decorated trees to share stories of loss, resilience, identity, and hope as living testaments to the enduring spirit of a people suffering unimaginable pain for decades.
Would Jesus Make It to Bethlehem Today?
As we celebrate the birth of Christ, we must ask: Under apartheid, would Mary and Joseph be able to reach Bethlehem? Would Jesus, born in a land now divided by walls, checkpoints, and military occupation, be able to complete his journey? Today, Palestinians—both Christian and Muslim—face relentless bombing, land seizures, and settler violence.
Many choose to look the other way or ignore the inhumane collective sufferings, especially during the Holiday season.
The Gaza Tree: Christ Under the Rubble
This tree honors the 17,000+ children murdered, among the 50,000+ Palestinians murdered in 14 months, while tens of thousands remain unaccounted for under the rubble. Its somber decorations include photos of murdered children, symbolic shrouds, and elements inspired by Bethlehem’s pastor Munther Isaac’s Christ Under the Rubble Christmas sermon. It asks visitors to confront the unimaginable: How does one celebrate life and Christmas while bombs rain down decimating entire families and future generations? It reflects the harrowing reality in Gaza amidst a man-made famine, leaving tens of thousands injured, maimed, orphaned, malnourished, struggling to survive a harsh winter.
The West Bank Tree: Jesus in the Holy Land
This tree bridges past and present, celebrating Palestine’s historical and Christian significance while exposing the brutal realities of occupation. Ornaments depict the apartheid wall, hundreds of checkpoints, Christian holy sites, and traditional Palestinian embroidery, symbolizing resilience and indigenous ties to the land.
It underscores the barriers Mary and Joseph would face today to reach Bethlehem, their journey blocked by modern-day oppression, illegal settler violence, home demolitions, land theft, and restrictions on resources. This tree reminds us that the Holy Land is not just a storybook setting—it is a place with real people fighting for basic human rights.
Transformative Conversations
The trees have already sparked meaningful dialogues. Many visitors encountered these untold stories for the first time. A child, learning about Gaza, expressed heartfelt empathy and commented “These children didn’t need to die.” Police officers paused to learn about Palestine’s history and its Christian roots.
Another said “We all need to learn more about Palestine.” These moments underscore the importance of humanizing Palestinians, their experiences and lives, while dismantling misinformation that dominates our mainstream media.
A Call for Reflection and Action
Palestinian Christians celebrating Christmas amidst devastation is a testament to faith and a call to action. We invite our neighbors to reflect on the resilience of a people fighting for their right to exist with freedom and dignity; to see the humanity in the faces of those who suffer, and recognize that silence and complicity has a significant human cost. Through these trees, we hope to inspire learning, empathy, and advocacy for justice in Palestine.
Let this Christmas be a time of reflection: for Gaza’s children, the West Bank, and the birthplace of Christ. The world needs to see the Holy Land not just as a memory of the past, but a call to conscience for the future. May this season bring understanding and renewed commitment to end the oppression and genocide, ensure justice, dignity, peace, and equality for all.