Caritas Jerusalem launches “Christmas of Hope” campaign to restore joy and dignity amid fragile ceasefire in Gaza and West Bank, with tree lightings and aid despite ongoing dangers
Newsroom (18/12/2025 Gaudium Press ) As Christians worldwide prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, symbols of light and life — such as the traditional Christmas tree — take on profound meaning in regions scarred by conflict. Pope Leo XIV, meeting Dec. 16 with donors of the Vatican’s Christmas tree and Nativity scene, described the tree as “a sign of life and evokes the hope that never fails, even in the cold of winter.” That enduring hope is precisely what Caritas Jerusalem seeks to foster among Christian communities in the Holy Land, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, after more than two years of war, destruction and despair.
Throughout December, Caritas Jerusalem has rolled out its “Christmas of Hope” campaign, designed to address the “deep need to restore joy, dignity, and spiritual renewal to communities that have endured” the devastation of war. Supported by Caritas branches in Italy and Sweden, the initiative includes Christmas celebrations, tree lightings and the distribution of material aid and comfort to Christians in Gaza and the West Bank.
“We’re doing it in Bethlehem. We’re doing it in Jerusalem, we’re doing it in Zababdeh, and even in Gaza,” Anton Asfar, secretary general of Caritas Jerusalem, told OSV News in a Dec. 10 interview. “We want to replant hope within the Christian community over here in the Holy Land.”
A ceasefire brokered in October remains in effect, but Asfar described it as “fragile.” Despite the agreement’s first phase to end hostilities, Israel has continued targeted operations in Gaza, including the recent killing of a senior Hamas commander. According to Al-Jazeera reports cited in the interview, Israeli forces have conducted at least 800 attacks and killed 400 people since the ceasefire began Oct. 10.
United Nations efforts to provide winter aid — including tents, blankets and provisions — are being severely hampered by restrictions on humanitarian corridors, according to Ramiz Alakbarov, the U.N. Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process. In a recent update, Alakbarov highlighted the dire conditions, noting the confirmation of the first hypothermia-related death: a two-week-old newborn boy from Khan Younis. While hunger has somewhat eased due to increased aid and commercial foodstuffs, key protein sources remain inaccessible to most, alongside acute shortages of clean water, medical care and shelter.
In Gaza, the threats persist daily. Asfar reported that Israeli tanks are visible near the Holy Family Parish compound, where residents hear “the bombardments and shelling” every day between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. “Even shrapnel is coming into the compound in Gaza,” he said. “Nobody talks about this now. Yes, the situation (has) improved, but it’s a ‘war after war’ situation.”
Movement within Gaza remains perilous due to the Israeli-marked “Yellow Line,” a boundary that observers say continues to expand into Palestinian territories. “The people in Gaza are pushed back,” Asfar explained. “Anyone who approaches this ‘Yellow Line’ will be shot at because they are seen as a threat. So if you mistakenly commute over there or walk over there, maybe you will be shot.” Caritas teams exercise extreme caution when moving between northern and southern Gaza.
Despite the dangers, Christians in Gaza “have never stopped praying and celebrating Mass.” With the ceasefire allowing a pause in intense fighting, many are now beginning to process the trauma. “People now, after the ceasefire, are starting to understand what has happened to them and are starting to process what happened, so it’s not an easy situation,” Asfar said.
Many residents, including some Caritas staff, have fled Gaza for other countries, but those who remain are committed to bringing moments of joy, especially to children. “We want to be with them. We want to make the wonderful children in Gaza smile,” Asfar said, “but we can’t do so if we are not allowed to bring toys into Gaza. We are not allowed to bring books or paintings or even pencils and drawing supplies, or stationery into Gaza.”
Asfar expressed gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his awareness of the plight, noting that the pontiff receives updates from the local cardinal and occasionally communicates directly with Holy Family parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli. The pope understands the loss of homes, with 560 individuals currently sheltering in the Latin and Orthodox compounds in Gaza.
The Caritas leader also thanked Catholics worldwide for their solidarity and prayers, emphasizing that “we feel very weak” without them. “We couldn’t convey the love of the Gospel to others without their support, whether with their prayers or with their financial support,” he said.
Looking ahead, Asfar voiced hope that global Catholic support will continue into the new year. Caritas Jerusalem plans a new appeal to establish mobile clinics in Gaza, support rehabilitation efforts and provide prosthetics for those who have lost limbs during the war.
In a season meant to proclaim hope and light piercing the darkness, the “Christmas of Hope” campaign stands as a testament to resilience amid ongoing hardship in the very land where the first Christmas unfolded.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from OSV News
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