Palestinian wounded in East Jerusalem as Israel launches West Bank raids
Israeli soldiers have raided several areas across the occupied West Bank, injuring and arresting Palestinians.
A young man was shot in the leg with live ammunition in the town of ar-Ram, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, which said its crews were prevented from immediately reaching the scene.
Israeli forces raided al-Khader south of Bethlehem, as well as Arroub north of Hebron, where they arrested a teenage boy, according to the Wafa news agency.
Soldiers also stormed the town of Nilin, located west of Ramallah.
Female prisoner from Bethlehem describes detention in Damon prison
The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office has cited the following from Aisha Awad al-Obaidat from Bethlehem, who has been detained in Israel’s Damon prison since June 20:
- During her lawyer’s visit, she revealed “systematic oppression” and said she and several other female detainees were subjected to several abusive incidents.
- Gas was directly sprayed into their eyes, they were thrown to the ground, beaten on the back with shoes, and restrained with plastic handcuffs from behind.
- Several tear gas bombs were used against them in two incidents.
- One prisoner fainted and her blood pressure dropped without any medical examination. She was only given water to drink.
- Another prisoner has been suffering from hand and foot twists since a previous incident at the hands of prison authorities without receiving treatment.
Holy Land’s top Catholic leader hails Palestinian ‘resilience’ on visit to Gaza
The top Catholic leader in the Holy Land has visited the Gaza Strip’s only Catholic church to share a message of Christmas hope and support.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was greeted by children in Santa hats and keffiyehs in the courtyard of the church compound, which was gaily decorated with twinkling lights and Christmas ornaments.
“I know the situation is difficult, but I see with the children, the school, the activities, a little light of hope,” he said in English to several dozen people gathered for the festivity. “You have been a wonderful testimony, not only of resilience, but of faith and hope for many people not just in Gaza, but many other parts of the world.”
He said the Christian community aims to be a “stable, solid reference point in this sea of destruction” as the rebuilding slowly begins. The Holy Family compound was hit by fragments from an Israeli shell in July, killing three people in what Israel then called an accident and expressed regret over.
“We cannot forget what happened. And we will never forget. But now we have to look forward,” said Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. “We need to cure, to heal our hearts.”
Pizzaballa greets children during a pastoral visit to the Holy Family Parish in Gaza City
