AMMAN — The patriarchs and heads of occupied Jerusalem's churches, in response to the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, announced on Saturday the cancellation of Christmas celebrations for 2023, limiting the festivities to prayers, rituals and religious ceremonies. In a statement, the churches highlighted the difficult times that have been experienced since the start of the war on Gaza, especially the atmosphere of grief, as thousands of innocent lives have been lost and others have been seriously injured. The churches also called for avoiding all non-essential celebrations and focusing on the spiritual meaning of Christmas through pastoral activities and religious rituals.