以巴戰爭︳耶穌出生地伯利恆今年沒聖誕 只有與加沙人同哀的悲痛

20 December 2023, Palestinian Territories, Bethlehem: View of a statue at Al-Mahad Church, which is devoid of visitors after Christmas celebrations were cancelled and the imposed closure on the city of Bethlehem due to continuous clashes between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Photo: Faiz Abu Rmeleh/dpa (Photo by Faiz Abu Rmeleh/picture alliance via Getty Images)
伯利恆一間教堂將「耶穌降生場景」的馬槽改成瓦礫堆,牧師想向全世界正在過節的人民說,如今在耶穌誕生之地,斷垣殘瓦才是聖誕節的樣子。

【Yahoo 新聞報導】平安夜是個普天同慶的日子,世界各地洋溢着溫馨快樂的節日氣氛。但在約旦河西岸的耶穌出生地伯利恆,一反往常節慶氣氛,取消所有公開的慶祝活動,與受苦的加沙巴勒斯坦人同哀,並祈求和平重現。在聖誕路德宗教堂,原本展示耶穌出生地馬槽的裝飾,改成一大堆瓦礫,有牧師表示,「若耶穌在今天出生,他只能誕生在瓦礫之下」。

巴勒斯坦的約旦河西岸地區、耶路撒冷以南不遠處,坐落著古城伯利恆。享有「耶穌誕生地」的盛名,伯利恆經濟來源非常仰賴遊客和朝聖者,特別是在聖誕節期間。受戰事影響,今年所有酒店、餐廳與紀念品店舖均沒有生意,經濟大受打擊,多間酒店被迫關閉,人民生活飽受影響。當其他地方在快樂地慶祝耶穌誕生時,耶穌出生地伯利恆的街道,卻只剩死氣沉沉的空寂。當加沙的人民在受戰火蹂躪時,在伯利恆的人民亦正經濟低迷折磨。

以色列與巴勒斯坦武裝組織哈馬斯今年10月7日爆發衝突,戰爭持續至今,加沙衛生部門指,當地已有接近1.9萬人在以軍空襲中喪生,主要是婦女和兒童。12月初,出於對加薩戰事的哀悼,西岸基督教領袖和行政單位全體決定要取消所有的公開慶祝活動,伯利恆其中一間教堂,以瓦礫代替聖經記載的馬槽,重置耶穌降生的場景,該教堂的牧師Munther Ishaq表示,這就是聖誕節在巴勒斯坦的樣子,希望「瓦礫堆裡的耶穌」可以展現教堂對加薩人民處境的支持,以及引起國際關注。

BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK - DECEMBER 23: A view of the barbed wires and decorations made from debris symbolizing the destruction in Gaza near the Church of the Nativity, built on a cave where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born, as all Christmas celebrations are limited due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 23, 2023. Due to Israel's attacks on Gaza, the streets of the city were not decorated for Christmas this year as in previous years. In the city, where festive activities were avoided, the streets were not decorated with lights as in previous years and the Christmas tree in front of the Church of the Nativity (Mehd) was not illuminated. While the courtyard of the Church of the Nativity is filled with visitors every year, this year it was almost empty. (Photo by Wesam Hashlamon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
伯利恆有教堂將「耶穌降生場景」的馬槽改成瓦礫堆,引起國際關注。
BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK - DECEMBER 23: A view of the barbed wires and decorations made from debris symbolizing the destruction in Gaza near the Church of the Nativity, built on a cave where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born, as all Christmas celebrations are limited due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 23, 2023. Due to Israel's attacks on Gaza, the streets of the city were not decorated for Christmas this year as in previous years. In the city, where festive activities were avoided, the streets were not decorated with lights as in previous years and the Christmas tree in front of the Church of the Nativity (Mehd) was not illuminated. While the courtyard of the Church of the Nativity is filled with visitors every year, this year it was almost empty. (Photo by Wesam Hashlamon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
伯利恆有教堂將「耶穌降生場景」的馬槽改成瓦礫堆,引起國際關注。
BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK - DECEMBER 23: A general view of the Church of the Nativity, built on a cave where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born, with only one side illuminated as all Christmas celebrations are limited due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 23, 2023. Due to Israel's attacks on Gaza, the streets of the city were not decorated for Christmas this year as in previous years. In the city, where festive activities were avoided, the streets were not decorated with lights as in previous years and the Christmas tree in front of the Church of the Nativity (Mehd) was not illuminated. While the courtyard of the Church of the Nativity is filled with visitors every year, this year it was almost empty. (Photo by Wesam Hashlamon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
以往聖誕期間的伯利恆通常擠滿遊客,今年受以巴戰爭影響,依賴旅遊業的伯利恆因遊客和朝聖者大減,經濟備受打擊。
KHAN YUNIS, GAZA - DECEMBER 24: People mourn as they collect the bodies of Palestinians killed in an airstrike on December 24, 2023 in Khan Yunis, Gaza. The United Kingdom, France and Germany are the latest countries to call on Israel to reach a
以巴戰爭持續,至今造成多死亡。