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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Comment
Plestia Alaqad

Yara is grateful to be in Australia. But it’s not Christmas while family and friends suffer in Gaza

Yara Australia Gaza
PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-LANDMARKS-HERITAGEThis picture taken on January 5, 2024, shows Gaza City's Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, damaged in Israeli bombardment during the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement. The conflict triggered by Hamas's deadly October 7 attack on Israel has caused massive destruction in the Gaza Strip, killing tens of thousands and leaving residents on the brink of famine. Much of the territory has become unrecognisable, as entire neighbourhoods which were once bustling with people, cars and donkey-drawn carts have been reduced to rubble. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images) Gaza landmark destruction
Gaza City's Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, which was damaged in an Israeli bombardment Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

It’s almost Christmas, and I always like to be the first one to wish my best friend, Yara, a merry Christmas as she’s always the first one to wish me a happy Eid on Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr. But is it appropriate to do that when there is still a genocide in Gaza and her cousins and friends are trapped in a church there?

Since we were in grade 4, I used to go over to Yara’s house in Gaza City, order food –probably from Al-Taboon Restaurant – decorate the tree, dance to YMCA songs, and then drink hot chocolate while watching a movie. We had this ritual going on for almost a decade.

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