History revisionist display of baby Jesus in keffiyeh unveiled in Vatican nativity scene

While millions of Christians worldwide prepare to celebrate Christmas this month, the Vatican has sparked debate with a revisionist addition to its annual nativity display in St. Peter’s Square. Unveiled on Saturday, the scene features a depiction of baby Jesus adorned in a keffiyeh, a traditional Middle Eastern headdress often associated with Palestinian identity.

“Nativity of Bethlehem 2024,” the politicized exhibition, was designed by Fatem Nastas Mitwasi and Johny Andonia, two artists from Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, which is currently under Palestinian Authority (PA) control.

Pope Francis who attended the ceremony said that the keffiyeh-clad baby Jesus should remind the world of those who “suffer the tragedy of war in the Holy Land and other parts of the world.”

“Enough with wars, enough of violence!” the Pope stated while condemning the military industry “that thrives on war and death.”

The ongoing war in Gaza began on Oct. 7 of last year, when the Hamas terrorist group invaded and massacred 1,200 Israeli men, women and children. The terrorists also kidnapped 251 Israelis and foreign nationals into Gaza, at least 95 of whom remain in Gaza after more than a year of captivity.

Since the 1960s, the keffiyeh has become a symbol of “Palestinian resistance” for many. At the same time, many Jews and Israelis associate the keffiyeh with decades of Arab and Islamic-driven acts of terrorism against Israel and the Jewish people.

Palestinian Authority propaganda has for years falsely presented the Jewish-born Jesus as a “Palestinian.”

While Pope Francis condemned the Hamas massacre of southern Israeli border communities last October, he has become increasingly opposed to the State of Israel as the Israeli military continues to defend itself against terrorists who call for Israel to be eliminated.

Last month, Pope Francis called for an international probe to determine whether the IDF's military operations against Hamas in Gaza have the “characteristics of genocide.”

“It should be carefully investigated to determine whether it fits the technical definition of genocide formulated by jurists and international bodies,” the Pope wrote in his newly published memoir, “Life, My Story Through History.”

“Pope Francis addresses current issues, including the suffering of war displaced and the famine in Palestine. He underscores the importance of respecting human dignity,” the Vatican News website stated.

The Vatican did not comment on the impact of Hamas and Hezbollah aggressions, including the suffering of Israeli victims or the displacement of tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes in the north and south.

Criticism of Israel by Pope Francis has not been limited to the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

He has also condemned Israel’s military operations against the Hezbollah terrorist group in Lebanon as going “beyond morality.”

The war in the north began on Oct. 8, 2023. when the Iranian-backed terror group launched an unprovoked attack on northern Israel, displacing tens of thousands of Israelis from their homes.

After facing a backlash for his “genocide” comments in his book, Pope Francis argued that his remark was taken out of its context.

“I did not claim that Israel committed genocide, Hamas should no longer exist in the world,” Pope Francis stated.

Rabbi Yosef Garmon, a former IDF tank commander in the 9026 Battalion who served both in Gaza and in the North, refuted the common accusation that Israel has been committing “genocide” in Gaza.

“Israel has the capability to end the war in one day and erase Gaza entirely, but it did not act that way and risked its soldiers to prevent the killing of innocents. You should investigate those who call to investigate Israel - not the other way around," Garmon urged the Pope.