78-year-old refugee Tony Al-Masri lives with his wife in a tent in Khan Younis. Gaza: Christmas in a tent and solidarity Refugees and migrants
In a small camp west of Khan Younis in Gaza, Tony Al-Masri, a 78-year-old refugee who has lost everything twice in his life, celebrates Christmas. Today, he does not have a festive dinner, a decorated tree and other attributes of the holiday, but his soul is warmed by the warmth of his friends. A real Christmas story from a UN News correspondent in Gaza.
“I was born in Haifa, in the Wadi Al-Nisnas area, and in 1948 we were expelled from our home and grew up in the Dbayeh refugee camp in Lebanon. Then I moved to Gaza. And now I’m back in a tent,” says Tony Al-Masri, a representative of the Christian community in Gaza.
Sitting outside his tent with his wife Amal and neighbor Hussam Al-Khalili, Tony recalls how the family celebrated Christmas in the past: “We always looked forward to this holiday with joy. We went to church, prayed, met with neighbors. Every year I went to Bethlehem to see my children and grandchildren. The priest would come to the center where our community gathers to congratulate us.”
“For the second year in a row, we have been deprived of this joy,” he shares. “There are no trips, no guests, not even a Christmas tree. The hardest thing is to celebrate Christmas alone with my wife, in complete silence.”
The old man warmly describes the details of the past: “I remember how Amal and I prepared the Christmas tree. We bought toys, cookies, sweets. In the evenings we would sit together and wait for midnight to start celebrating. We always had a celebratory dinner, the children and grandchildren would gather nearby.”
Tony’s wife, Amal Abboud, adds tearfully: “Right now, we have no joy or smiles. The constant fear of explosions deprives us of sleep. You wake up from the roar, not knowing what to do, where to run. You cry, try to sleep, but you can’t. Nothing around you brings happiness.”
However, in this grim reality, there is room for humanity and kindness. Their neighbor Hussam Al-Khalili, who treats Tony like a father, shares his story: “Tony was my neighbor in Gaza. When we were resettled, I learned that he was in Khan Younis. I found a place for him and his wife near us in the camp. We live like one family. My children help them with everything. We cook food together, support each other. He has no one but God and us. We will be there for them so that they do not feel alone.”
Despite everything he has been through, Tony Al-Masri does not lose hope. His voice softens as he talks about the future: “My only dream is peace. I hope that 2025 will bring peace to all people, especially the Palestinian people. Let the blood and wars stop and people can enjoy life again. My greatest dream is to see my children and grandchildren, to bring back those beautiful days that we have lost.”
Perhaps stories like this remind people that the true spirit of Christmas is the care and hope that they can give to each other.