A Christmas sermon by Pastor Isaac Munther from Bethlehem’s Evangelical Lutheran Church has sparked outrage and renewed calls for an end to the Israeli attack on Gaza. The sermon, titled “Christ is Still in the Rubble,” condemned Israel’s actions as genocide and called for accountability.
Munther spoke out against the relentless bombardment of Gaza, which has killed over 45,000 Palestinians since October 2023. He criticized the Western church’s complicity in the violence, saying it had become a “tool” for power and supremacy.
Israel continues to attack Gaza’s healthcare system, including detonating explosives just outside hospitals and shelling obstetric facilities. The situation is dire, with babies being delivered without sanitation or proper medical care.
Oxfam has labeled Gaza’s destruction as “the late stages of ethnic cleansing.” Munther warned that if nothing is done, millions will become refugees and tens of thousands will be killed.
The pastor also raised concerns about Israel’s plans to annex the West Bank next year. He said there is no one to hold Israel accountable, given its notorious disregard for international law and its military and diplomatic support from the US.
In a grim reminder, Israeli columnist Gideon Levy wrote that Israel has chosen a doctrine that allows it to do “anything” after surviving the Holocaust. The situation in Gaza demands action, with Munther urging there be “life” and “light” as Christmas coincides with the first day of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.
Source: https://www.democracynow.org/2024/12/24/christ_is_still_in_the_rubble