In a recent social media post, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York sparked a whirlwind of controversy by attempting to draw a parallel between Jesus and the Palestinian people while criticizing Israel. However, her post failed to mention Hamas or address their hostages, leading to criticism from various individuals.

Ocasio-Cortez's post referenced the story of Christmas, stating that Christ was born in modern-day Palestine under the threat of a government engaged in a massacre of innocents. She compared this historical event to the current situation in Bethlehem, where she claimed "right-wing forces are violently occupying" the area, leading to the cancelation of Christmas Eve celebrations out of fear for safety.

While Ocasio-Cortez emphasized standing with the poor, powerless, and marginalized, critics were quick to point out the omission of Hamas terror and the victims of the October 7th attack. Jacob Kornbluh, a senior political reporter at The Forward, called her out for failing to address these crucial aspects.

Furthermore, pro-Israel activist Andrea Karshan expressed her frustration, stating that Christmas should not be used for political purposes. She voiced her disappointment that some people are more focused on social justice issues rather than truly enjoying the spirit of Christmas.

It is worth noting that Ocasio-Cortez had previously joined 23 Democrats in requesting details from President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding plans to de-escalate the violence in the region during Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip in November. In their letter, they condemned the Hamas attacks on Israel while also expressing concerns over the Israeli Defense Forces' response.

In response to the ongoing violence, Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, decided to forgo its usual Christmas festivities as a show of solidarity with Gaza. The city council explained that celebrating Christmas would not be appropriate while a massacre was occurring in Gaza and attacks were taking place in the West Bank.

The controversial social media post by Ocasio-Cortez has ignited a heated debate, with some praising her for highlighting the plight of the Palestinians, while others criticize her for disregarding the actions of Hamas and failing to acknowledge the victims of their attacks. The discussion continues regarding the appropriateness of intertwining political statements with sacred religious events.