Christmas celebrations have been scaled back in Nazareth, the town where Christians believe Jesus lived much of his life, in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Business owners say trade has plummeted as tourists and pilgrims have stopped coming because of the war, while Christian leaders told VOA that it is impossible to feel celebratory right now.
For war correspondents, loss and risk are part of the job. As the toll from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine rises, VOA’s Cristina Caicedo Smit talks with two veterans about their experiences and the why they continue to report despite the risks.
A Filipino caregiver and ex-hostage, who had been held captive for nearly seven weeks by Hamas militants in Gaza, arrived home to the Philippines on Monday to a tearful reunion with his family.
The West Bank’s economy is struggling as a result of the war between Israel and Hamas. Just two of the issues are that work licenses for Palestinians employed in Israel have been revoked and Palestinian Authority employees have not received the payment properly in weeks.
In response to allegations that Israel is holding prisoners inhumanely and without charge, Palestinian prisoners’ rights organizations are urging that the Red Cross be granted access to over 4,000 Palestinians who have been arrested since the Israel-Hamas war started on October 7.
The Israeli-Hamas conflict has claimed lives and caused devastation. However, livelihoods and agricultural heartlands are also being impacted. Due to Israel’s policy of blocking Palestinian laborers from entering the country since the start of the war and the fleeing of foreign laborers from Israel, some farmers now rely on volunteers to harvest and salvage their crops.
Humanitarian organizations warn of a growing crisis in the Gaza Strip as winter approaches, despite continuing heavy fighting in Gaza. Palestinians say 85% of the population has been internally displaced and warn of disease ‘spreading.
A record number of journalists and aid workers have lost their lives in the first two months of the Israel-Hamas war.
In communities near the border with Lebanon or Gaza in the north or south, almost 200,000 Israelis have had to leave their homes. They have spent the last two months staying in hotels and guest houses and are unsure of when they will be able to go home
Palestinians say that since the war with Hamas started on October 7th, violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank has increased. This happened even as Biden administration’s increased pressure on Israel to put an end to settler violence by imposing a travel ban on extremist settlers who have been involved in attacks.