In a recent Instagram story posted on Christmas Eve, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sparked controversy with her portrayal of Palestinians as parallel to biblical figures while critiquing Israel. The New York Democrat juxtaposed the story of Jesus with the current situation in Gaza and the occupied territories, eliciting strong reactions from various quarters.
Ocasio-Cortez’s post featured an image of a child amidst destruction in the Gaza Strip, with her message praying for “the peace and protection of the innocent” in that region. She likened the biblical narrative of Jesus’ birth under oppressive governance to the plight of Palestinians today, suggesting parallels with the historic struggles of Mary and Joseph.
According to Ocasio-Cortez, these ancient narratives find echoes in the present-day experiences of Palestinians, including disruptions to religious observances like the cancellation of Christmas Eve celebrations in Bethlehem. She emphasized that every child born, regardless of identity and origin, holds sacred value, particularly highlighting the children of Gaza.
Her post extended the Christmas narrative to a broader social justice context, affirming the story as a symbol of solidarity with the marginalized, refugees, and immigrants. She further suggested that if the story of Jesus’ family were to unfold in the current era, they would be Jewish Palestinians.
However, the post faced criticism for its one-sided perspective. Jacob Kornbluh, a senior political reporter at The Forward, highlighted Ocasio-Cortez’s characterization of Israel and the lack of mention of Hamas’ actions or the victims of their attacks. Another commentator criticized her for omitting references to Israelis held captive by Hamas and the suffering caused by their attacks, accusing her of bias.
A user from New Jersey disputed Ocasio-Cortez’s historical framing, arguing against the concept of “Jewish Palestinians” as she presented it. Meanwhile, pro-Israel activist Andrea Karshan called for a depoliticization of Christmas celebrations, lamenting the loss of the holiday’s joyous essence amidst such political discussions.
This controversy came hours before Pope Francis’ Christmas Day message, which also touched upon the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Pope condemned the weapons industry and its role in fueling conflicts, expressing sorrow over the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. While he called for the release of hostages, he equally urged for an end to Israel’s military actions in Gaza and stressed the need for humanitarian aid.