For many, the Christmas and end-of-year period is a time for family and friends to come together. For adherents of the Christian faith, its religious significance is singular. But the deeper message of the Christmas story – which tells of the birth of Jesus – has universal themes. It tells of a vulnerable, exiled family having a baby amid occupation and oppression.
Such resilience will be on display today as Christian communities in Palestine celebrate the birth of Jesus in trying circumstances. In Gaza, despite the ceasefire reached in October, traditional rituals still have to be stripped down to their essentials – prayer, Mass and reflection. There are no decorations and no outdoor ceremonies. Nevertheless, some in the enclave’s small Christian congregation, such as 12-year-old Maryam Terzi, are looking to the fu
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