(MENAFN- Palestine News Network )
Bethlehem/PNN /
Standing in front of the Church of the Nativity, the voice of Bethlehem's children raises a cry on behalf of Palestinian children, both in general and especially in Gaza, to the entire world, demanding an end to the ongoing massacre against our people."
"The children gathered in the Nativity Square, raising Palestinian flags and images of the martyred children in Gaza, urging the world from the holiest place in Christian heritage to pressurize Israel to stop its crimes and pave the way for holding Israeli war criminals accountable."
"The gathering included speeches from acting Bethlehem Governor Mohammed Taha Abu Alya, the Mayor of Bethlehem, and several Islamic and Christian religious figures. Students delivered speeches in Arabic, English, and French to voice our people's message to the world. Emotional statements highlighted the dire situation in Gaza under bombardment and aggression, accompanied by national and humanitarian songs in multiple languages, reflecting a human message from the children of Bethlehem and Palestine to the world.
The tolling of the Church of the Nativity and the surrounding churches, along with the call to prayer from the Mosque of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, merged in a joint prayer carrying a message of humanity, religion, and patriotism to the world. This prayer underlined the demand of the Palestinian people, both Muslims and Christians, for the world to halt the massacre, crimes, and the war of annihilation against the Palestinian people."
Children of Bethlehem Unite in Front of Nativity Church, Demanding an End to Massacre - YouTube
Natalee one of Palestinian students from Bethlehem who pretested in the march. said that they are coming to stand here to call for protect the people of Gaza from the killings they endure.
The girl added:" We're here to express our sadness at what's happening and hope that the war ends, that the children prevail".
This event represents a political message on multiple levels, reflecting the unity of our people on an internal Palestinian level, in addition to being a political and humanitarian message to the world about the necessity of ending the war of annihilation."
Mohammed Taha Abu Alya, acting governor of Bethlehem told PNN reporter, that children, women, and the elderly in Gaza are being killed by American-made weaponry and today, we send a plea in front of the Church of the Nativity, a place representing the messenger of love and peace, that the Palestinian people are being annihilated and killed. The world must stop what's happening.
In turn Mohammed Sobuh Fatah's secretary in Bethlehem city said that Palestinian message from the Church of the Nativity is a message to the world from all the sons of Bethlehem, Muslims and Christians, through the ringing of church bells and mosque calls, to convey that we stand united to confront this crime being committed against us in this era.
After the bells of the Church of the Nativity rang and the call to prayer from the Mosque of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab was heard, the organizers of the event from the President's office, the Ministry of Education, and the Municipality of the city affirmed that its message is a Palestinian humanitarian one to the world, representing the necessity for an end to the aggression of the occupation from the children of Bethlehem."
Hanna Hanania, Mayor of Bethlehem said during interview with PNN: "Today, on the anniversary of President Yasser Arafat's martyrdom and amidst the aggression on Gaza, we stand united in support of our national rights, Muslims and Christians.
He added:" We send a message to the world and the international community to shoulder their responsibilities and end the silence to stop this war targeting the children of Gaza. Half of the martyrs are children subjected to bombing and burning."
For his part Bassam Jabr, Director of Education Ministry in Bethlehem said "Today, on November 11th, the anniversary of President Yasser Arafat's martyrdom, as the Ministry of Education partnered with various entities, we organized this gathering with Bethlehem's school students to tell the world: enough of wars against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. Enough of the genocide imposed on Palestinians in Gaza.
The Director of Education Ministry in Bethlehem added that the world must protect the children in Palestine so they can live in peace, freedom, and independence.
Jabr called on the Arab and Islamic summits held today to work on halting the war and protecting the Palestinian people."
"Islamic and Christian religious figures confirmed in their speeches that they hope the symbolism of the Church of the Nativity will serve as a point to deliver the message of the oppressed to the world at large."
There's nothing more beautiful than having this message emanate from in front of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem said Father Issa Thaljieh, priest of the Orthodox Church.
He said: We know that the whole world recognizes that the birth of Jesus Christ was here in Bethlehem and Palestine. His message conveyed peace, love, and freedom to the entire world.
Today, Bethlehem's message is that we must stop the war and destruction and emphasize that Palestinian children need freedom and safety. He told PNN reporter.
"Despite their sense of injustice, feeling abandoned by the world and subjected to Israeli missile strikes, the children of Bethlehem appeal to the world's conscience to act to stop the genocidal war being carried out by Israel. Israel, which killed children in Christian history to target Christ, is killing the children of Gaza today to target his descendants.
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