A Christmas that denied Jesus Christ – Charles Santiago

Amid brightly lit trees, festive decorations, Gaza's skyline is marred by US-made bombs, sparking global outcry for ceasefire

11:45 AM MYT

 

SILENT night, holy night 

All is calm, all is bright…

Except in Gaza where tens of thousands of Palestinians are dead. And many more would continue to die because of America’s veto power that has put a stop to a ceasefire. 

While brightly lit trees and glittering decorations light up homes, US-made bombs brighten up Gaza’s skyline. 

As I write this, United States President Joe Biden continues to make it difficult to conclude a United Nations ceasefire agreement. 

Millions are protesting all over the world. The global anti-war movement is pressuring governments to intervene to stop the murder of Palestinians, including women and children. But the bombs are still raining on Gaza because the UN Security Council has become the toy of rich countries. 

Israel continues to commit severe violations of international humanitarian law by restricting aid, targeting civilians and claiming that all acts of aggression are in self-defence against a territory it has occupied for 16 years. 

Not only has Gaza become a graveyard, but Israel’s collective punishment is tantamount to war crimes and genocide. But these are met with a deadly silence from the US, the United Kingdom and much of Europe. 

The international community’s double standards are alarming. Besieged Gaza has seen five wars since 2008. But investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into war crimes are slow-moving because of lukewarm political support and inadequate resources. But European ICC members were quick to call for investigations against Russia after the Ukrainian conflict. 

International humanitarian law has done little to stop the ongoing massacre in Gaza. And the overwhelming support from the UN General Assembly for a ceasefire was cut short by Biden’s administration. 

Clearly, some Western and EU member states are calling the shots. They determine who deserves to be saved. 

This has to change. 

We need a permanent ceasefire to stop the senseless killings of Palestinians in Gaza. 

Therefore, we need to rethink the allocation of power within organisations such as the United Nations, and especially the composition of the Security Council, which is dominated by Western states. 

It is time for the Global South to band together with one voice to challenge the US and other Western/European states, whose tacit support for Israel will help airbrush Palestinians out of history. 

We – you and I – must also stand up and make our voices heard, just as Jesus Christ did when he spoke out for truth, justice, and love. 

Or we will be celebrating the death and destruction of Palestine and her people this Christmas. – December 22, 2023

Charles Santiago is former Klang MP and National Water Services Commission chairman

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