The Nativity by Jacob Jordaens.
In this fateful year however, peace on Earth seems farther away than ever. While we may enjoy a hearty meal among loved ones and friends, there are those for whom such an ordinary event may currently seem farther away than ever, like these Ukrainian soldiers. Perhaps they may consider themselves lucky if they manage to warm up some decent rations in their cold and wet trenches:
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are now at the frontlines defending Ukraine and Europe.
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) December 23, 2023
They will celebrate Christmas and the New Year in the trenches, far from their families.
Let's send them greetings and words of support.
Many of them follow this Twitter account. And I… pic.twitter.com/vxONdpMd6q
And while I deeply regret innocent victims in the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, my thoughts are mostly with the IDF soldiers fighting to eradicate evil. Although the fighting is highly asymmetrical and Hamas doesn't stand a chance, victory is not coming cheap.
The IDF regrets to announce the deaths of the following soldiers, who fell in combat in southern Gaza:
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 18, 2023
🕯️SSF Urija Bayer, 20-years-old, a combat soldier in Maglan
🕯️SSF Liav Aloush, 21-years-old, a combat soldier in Duvdevan
🕯️MSG (Res.) Etan Naeh, 26-years-old, a combat… pic.twitter.com/1pP2Un9HQN
Far from the cameras, or so it seems, there's the ongoing tragedy in Darfur, Sudan.
More footage of militia rounding up civilians in Ardamata, near El Geneina, West Darfur. These look to me like schoolboys, old men, traders, craftsmen, etc... but to the militia they see just one thing: their ethnicity.pic.twitter.com/TCzgVas77T
— خواجة مسكين (@daniel_van0) November 7, 2023
Prayers are asked for all those suffering in these dreadful conflicts.
MFBB.