‘Tis the season to be jolly!

Most children would consider Christmas celebrations dreamlike – with twinkling Christmas lights, extravagantly decorated trees, gifts, and of course, a time when everyone comes together to enjoy the Christmas spirit.

But is it "jolly" for Palestine?

In Palestine, letters addressed to Santa reveal the trauma the Israeli occupation is causing the little kids.

Carol wants nothing from Santa this year but happiness, safety, and tranquility away from wars.

Julia wishes all Palestinians a merry Christmas and that it brings about lots of happiness and joy.

Judy’s Christmas list is short and to the point. “I wish to live without being ruled by the fear of war."

Kids across occupied Palestine are still asking for toys, clothes, and barbies, among other simple gifts. But in a year filled with Israeli violence and oppression, a review of their Christmas wishes exposes how the occupation is weighing heavily on them.

Some are imploring Santa to take them back to that time of the past that their grandparents have described to them... “the days before the Israeli occupation when people used to go out as they wished and travel whenever they wanted," a Palestinian boy told Al Mayadeen English.

A common dream among the children was to visit Beit Lahm, “where amazing events are held from what I heard, and I want to see the ceremony where they light up the Christmas tree there too."

Like all Palestinian children, they wish to be able to enter Palestinian towns without permits and having to go through obstacles and checkpoints and visit the holy places in order to celebrate with their families and friends in the Church of the Nativity, Al-Aqsa Mosque, or the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Since March 1993, Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank (except for residents of Al-Quds) have been required to obtain permits from Israeli occupation authorities.

As for the biggest Christmas wish, it is the end of the occupation.

The number of #Palestinian children killed by #israeli security forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank has doubled this year to 34 , #MerryChristmas #Santa #فلسطين pic.twitter.com/GcWaLVx5IF

— Mohammad Sabaaneh (@Sabaaneh) December 23, 2022

“Israel” has been committing war crimes against Palestinian children for decades, depriving them of their most basic rights, including their right to play, and instead killing and maiming them on a daily basis.

Read next: “I am too young to die”: Children in Gaza left traumatized

Christmas spirit suffocated by the Israeli occupation

Large green and red ornaments decorate Christmas trees across occupied Palestine, and strings attached to cotton balls descend from the ceiling. Joy prevails and shines from within the church, and it’s reflected in a cohesive Palestinian community.

However, the joy remains incomplete. This is what life has always been reduced to in Palestine; whether it’s Christmas or any other day, there’s no joy left to experience under the occupation.

“My wish is a Christmas with no Israeli occupation. I wish to enjoy Christmas freely. Without their presence. They cause trouble, and they ruin everything," a girl from Gaza told Al Mayadeen English.

Another 6-year-old girl from Gaza wanted “to tell the Israeli occupation to get out of our city [Al-Quds]. We shall forever stand strong; they [Israelis] are the greatest evil."

Another girl also wished to have a childhood just like any other child outside of occupied Palestine.

A boy from Gaza included a beautiful confession of how Muslim brothers and sisters join Christians in Christmas celebrations.

“I am a Muslim, and we all celebrate Christmas altogether. I wish that the Israeli occupation won’t ruin it for us, because ruining holidays is a habit of theirs," he told Al Mayadeen English.

Another girl sounded a little more pessimistic. She depicted reality as it is, crying out that “the Israeli occupation ruins our Christmas and throws grenades at us. They assault us. They throw grenades at our cars, and they assault young men, and ruin Christmas spirit."

One thing is as clear as crystal: the sentiments in many Palestinian children’s wishes aren’t those of children living a normal, healthy childhood.

Read next: No Christmas where Christ was born