It is not only the people in Gaza who are struggling right now. Across the Holy Land, Palestinians are unable to afford basic necessities, like food, medicine and fuel to heat their homes. Over 150,000 Palestinians living in the West Bank work in Israel. But for the last four months, they have been unable to cross the checkpoints to go to their jobs. Tourists have also been unable to visit the West Bank, which has devastated the local economy. Now shopkeepers, guides, drivers and many others are no longer able to earn an income. And many families were already in need after the Covid pandemic, with no savings to get them through this current crisis.

We have been working with priests from the Church of the Nativity to get funds to families who need support. We send them donations, and they distribute them to pharmacies and supermarkets to cover basic supplies for people who can’t pay. They are also giving donations to people – both Christian and Muslim – who come to the church to ask for support. One hundred percent of the donations to this fund go directly to people in Bethlehem. And even small donations of $10 or $20 can go a long way in the West Bank, buying medicine for a sick person or formula for a baby.