🔗 Share this article The Holiday Tree Lighting Lights Up for the First Time After the Outbreak of the Gaza War For two years amid the Gaza war, every festive public event marking the holiday season were cancelled in Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This place is where the faithful hold Jesus was born. However, after the recent ceasefire, the holy city determined that this year celebrations would return, as symbolised by the illumination of its traditional, giant Christmas tree in front of the historic Nativity Church. "We have endured two difficult years of silence; no Christmas, no employment, no work," states the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives on tourism and tourism was down to zero." He accepts that the idea of resuming celebrations faced some debate, given the ongoing hardship within Gaza – which affects those in its small Christian population, many of whom have family ties to Bethlehem. "Certain voices argue it's not appropriate while others contend it is fitting," the mayor notes. "But deep inside my heart, I believed this constituted the right thing to take since Christmas must never be halted or abandoned. This is a beacon of hope for our community." A Glimmer of Celebration Returns Locals – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – take photographs in front of the tree decorated with red and gold baubles at Manger Square. They are accompanied by a small number of international visitors. Brightly coloured lights now adorn city streets and there are signs advertising Christmas bazaars and festive events for children. "We are delighted to see the tree, first of all, and to welcome visitors to Bethlehem and to have the chance to celebrate Christmas in its authentic spirit," says Bethlehem designer Nadya Hazboun. "This place is where everything began, so this is where we can send the message to the world of what really Christmas should be about. And now, if the season is calm, then I hope it will deliver a nice message for the whole world." Economic Prospects and Difficulties Nearby towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to illuminate holiday trees in the coming days. Local hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for two years – have an influx of bookings from Palestinian citizens of Israel as well as some foreign visitors. One tourist from Russia, Angelica, is making her second pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "I think every person should visit at least once in their life," she says. "I hope a lot of people will return soon because it's sad with few tourists. The only thing that's good is there are no long lines – one can visit and see more things. On my prior visit you had to wait in a queue for hours minimum." For now, the souvenir stores dotted around Bethlehem have little business, and near the cream-coloured walls of the Nativity Church, which date back to the 4th century, guides largely stand idle. Before the Gaza war, it was typically packed with visitors. "This is a city for tourists; absent visitors there is no life," expresses a guide named Hamza. "We hope to have people returning as in the past: from European nations, the Middle East, the Americas, Latin America and all over. We begin with the Christmas tree lighting, and then we will wait." The Persistent Economic Toll Over the last two years, unemployment has skyrocketed within Bethlehem. Following the lethal Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel during October 2023 which triggered the conflict, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank have been prevented from entering Israel and Israeli settlements to work. Meanwhile, government employees have received only partial wages by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs areas within the West Bank. The Authority depends on tax revenues collected by Israel, which it is currently holding – amounting to 1.76 billion dollars, as reported by a UN agency. Israeli officials state they are retaining these funds due to the fact that the Authority provides financial payments to Palestinian prisoners that encourage attacks on Israelis. The PA – which has been under international pressure to enact reforms – says it has recently changed its welfare system. A Modest Christmas Season The grim economic situation means that for many Christian Palestinians, despite the fact that there are now public events as well as religious ceremonies, it will be an austere Christmas. On the periphery of Manger Square, a few customers are waiting to purchase sizzling balls of falafel from several shops. "We are getting ready for the holiday following one of our most challenging times as a Palestinian people and as a Christian community," says Alaa Salameh, an owner of a restaurant called Afteem, a decades-old family restaurant that has witnessed its income plummet. He notes that recently many families could not even afford falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food. "Christians will try to celebrate but according to their situation," Mr Salameh anticipates. "An individual wishing to bring their children to a festival or the theatre or similar, he doesn't have the funds to spend on these celebrations." Hopes for Calm and Recovery In the cave-like grotto beneath the church, a resident accompanies a tour group from India, stooping down by a silver star that indicates the spot where tradition states Jesus was born and lighting a light nearby. With tensions still high across the region, people in Bethlehem state they are praying for tranquility – and hoping for visitors to return to the location where it is believed Christmas began.
For two years amid the Gaza war, every festive public event marking the holiday season were cancelled in Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This place is where the faithful hold Jesus was born. However, after the recent ceasefire, the holy city determined that this year celebrations would return, as symbolised by the illumination of its traditional, giant Christmas tree in front of the historic Nativity Church. "We have endured two difficult years of silence; no Christmas, no employment, no work," states the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives on tourism and tourism was down to zero." He accepts that the idea of resuming celebrations faced some debate, given the ongoing hardship within Gaza – which affects those in its small Christian population, many of whom have family ties to Bethlehem. "Certain voices argue it's not appropriate while others contend it is fitting," the mayor notes. "But deep inside my heart, I believed this constituted the right thing to take since Christmas must never be halted or abandoned. This is a beacon of hope for our community." A Glimmer of Celebration Returns Locals – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – take photographs in front of the tree decorated with red and gold baubles at Manger Square. They are accompanied by a small number of international visitors. Brightly coloured lights now adorn city streets and there are signs advertising Christmas bazaars and festive events for children. "We are delighted to see the tree, first of all, and to welcome visitors to Bethlehem and to have the chance to celebrate Christmas in its authentic spirit," says Bethlehem designer Nadya Hazboun. "This place is where everything began, so this is where we can send the message to the world of what really Christmas should be about. And now, if the season is calm, then I hope it will deliver a nice message for the whole world." Economic Prospects and Difficulties Nearby towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to illuminate holiday trees in the coming days. Local hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for two years – have an influx of bookings from Palestinian citizens of Israel as well as some foreign visitors. One tourist from Russia, Angelica, is making her second pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "I think every person should visit at least once in their life," she says. "I hope a lot of people will return soon because it's sad with few tourists. The only thing that's good is there are no long lines – one can visit and see more things. On my prior visit you had to wait in a queue for hours minimum." For now, the souvenir stores dotted around Bethlehem have little business, and near the cream-coloured walls of the Nativity Church, which date back to the 4th century, guides largely stand idle. Before the Gaza war, it was typically packed with visitors. "This is a city for tourists; absent visitors there is no life," expresses a guide named Hamza. "We hope to have people returning as in the past: from European nations, the Middle East, the Americas, Latin America and all over. We begin with the Christmas tree lighting, and then we will wait." The Persistent Economic Toll Over the last two years, unemployment has skyrocketed within Bethlehem. Following the lethal Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel during October 2023 which triggered the conflict, many thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank have been prevented from entering Israel and Israeli settlements to work. Meanwhile, government employees have received only partial wages by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs areas within the West Bank. The Authority depends on tax revenues collected by Israel, which it is currently holding – amounting to 1.76 billion dollars, as reported by a UN agency. Israeli officials state they are retaining these funds due to the fact that the Authority provides financial payments to Palestinian prisoners that encourage attacks on Israelis. The PA – which has been under international pressure to enact reforms – says it has recently changed its welfare system. A Modest Christmas Season The grim economic situation means that for many Christian Palestinians, despite the fact that there are now public events as well as religious ceremonies, it will be an austere Christmas. On the periphery of Manger Square, a few customers are waiting to purchase sizzling balls of falafel from several shops. "We are getting ready for the holiday following one of our most challenging times as a Palestinian people and as a Christian community," says Alaa Salameh, an owner of a restaurant called Afteem, a decades-old family restaurant that has witnessed its income plummet. He notes that recently many families could not even afford falafel – an inexpensive, traditional food. "Christians will try to celebrate but according to their situation," Mr Salameh anticipates. "An individual wishing to bring their children to a festival or the theatre or similar, he doesn't have the funds to spend on these celebrations." Hopes for Calm and Recovery In the cave-like grotto beneath the church, a resident accompanies a tour group from India, stooping down by a silver star that indicates the spot where tradition states Jesus was born and lighting a light nearby. With tensions still high across the region, people in Bethlehem state they are praying for tranquility – and hoping for visitors to return to the location where it is believed Christmas began.