On Christmas morning, Father Edward Beck appeared as a guest on CNN and attempted to draw parallels between the "story of Christmas" and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The priest was asked about the "pain and suffering" occurring around the world during the holiday season and was urged to address those who are feeling "hopeless." In response, Father Beck emphasized the message of Christmas, stating that it signifies that God is with us in our struggles and that we are not alone.

He then went on to highlight the unique aspect of the Christmas story, stating, "What I'm so struck by is that the story of Christmas is about a Palestinian Jew- how often do you find those words put together? A Palestinian Jew born into a time when his country was occupied, right? They can't find a place for her to even give birth, his mother. They're homeless. They eventually have to flee as refugees into Egypt, no less. I mean, you can't make up the parallels to our current world situation right now."

Father Beck continued by emphasizing that despite these circumstances, Jesus preached love and unity. "And so in some way, that is who we believe God becomes born into that situation and yet, that very man, Jesus, says love one another, love your enemies. There is hope. There is light in the darkness. I'm attesting to that. So somehow that God enters that experience of suffering and that struggle and is actually born into it. That is what is so miraculous about this celebration for me."

However, Father Beck's comments were met with intense backlash on social media. Critics took issue with his interpretation of Jesus as a "Palestinian Jew," claiming it was historically inaccurate. New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz responded by stating, "This is embarrassingly wrong," while Foundation for Defense of Democracies research fellow Hussain Abdul-Hussain criticized the priest for not accurately interpreting the New Testament.

Conservative radio host Erick Erickson also chimed in, accusing CNN of being disconnected from the people by featuring commentary like Father Beck's. GOP strategist Steve Guest criticized the network, claiming that they were furthering the "war on Christmas" with their coverage. Versus Media Podcast host Stephen L. Miller sarcastically wished viewers a "Merry Christmas from CNN."

In defense of his stance, Father Beck shared a Britannica article titled "Jewish Palestine at the time of Jesus" and quoted a source that emphasized the historical use of the term “Palestinian” to refer to diverse groups living in that region. However, this did little to quell the uproar over his comments.

Avi Kaner, the founder of the Samwawal Foundations, accused Father Beck of inciting hate and compared his comments to blood libels. In response, Father Beck stated, "Sorry you heard what you wanted to hear. But my message was one of unity and solidarity - with both Israel and with suffering Palestinians. The more we accentuate our differences, the less love there will be in the world."

Despite the controversy surrounding Father Beck's comments, he stood firm in his belief that his message was one of unity and solidarity, emphasizing the importance of love and understanding in a divided world.