This year, the historic town of Bethlehem, often celebrated as the capital of Christmas, feels profoundly different amid ongoing conflict.
Typically bustling with visitors during the holiday season, the streets are noticeably quiet. Traditional festive decorations and the iconic giant Christmas tree in front of the Nativity Church, believed to mark the birthplace of Jesus, are absent.
For the second consecutive year, public Christmas celebrations have been halted due to the war in Gaza, leaving Palestinian Christians to mark the occasion through intimate religious ceremonies and family gatherings.
Reverend Dr. Munther Isaac expresses the somber mood, stating, “This should be a time of joy and celebration, but Bethlehem is a sad town in solidarity with our siblings in Gaza.”
At his church, the Nativity scene features baby Jesus on a pile of rubble, capturing the dire circumstances surrounding Christmas. In a recent prayer service, the focus was on the devastating situation in Gaza.
“It’s hard to believe that another Christmas has come upon us and the genocide has not stopped,” Isaac remarked during his sermon. “Decision makers seem content to allow this to continue, viewing Palestinians as expendable.”
Israel has strongly rejected allegations of genocide in Gaza, while the UN’s top court is yet to rule on a case filed by South Africa alleging genocide.
Many Bethlehemite Christians express feelings of despair and frustration over what they perceive as the silence of global Christian communities.
With close-knit ties within the small Palestinian Christian community, many residents have family and friends in Gaza. Dr. Yousef Khouri, a theologian originally from Gaza City, shares his family’s struggles. “My family has endured more than a year of starvation, lack of sleep due to bombardments, and minimal medical support,” he explains.
“We’ve lost friends and relatives,” he adds, highlighting the personal toll of the ongoing conflict.
In Gaza, reports indicate that over 45,000 lives have been lost as a result of the war triggered by Hamas attacks in southern Israel, with casualty figures being supported by the UN. The violence started on October 7, 2023, leading to significant loss of life and hostage situations.
Simultaneously, tensions are escalating in the West Bank, where Israel has imposed travel restrictions on Palestinians and revoked thousands of work permits.
Bethlehem’s economy, heavily dependent on tourism, is collapsing as visitor numbers dwindle. Tour guides can often be seen idling near the Nativity Church, some reduced to feeding pigeons.
“If tourists come, everyone works—hotels, transportation, and accommodations,” remarked local guide Abdullah. “Without tourists, there is no livelihood in Bethlehem.”
Adnan Subah, a souvenir vendor, echoed these concerns: “I’m broke! For over a year, we have been at home with no job or business.” He added that the lack of tourists has affected his entire family.
In light of these challenges, many local Christian and Muslim families have left the area, citing fears of violence and settlement expansion in pursuit of Palestinian statehood.
Despite these difficulties, a community initiative in Bethlehem is working to alleviate hardship by assembling food parcels for those in need. With no governmental support, volunteers are mobilizing resources, even receiving donations from overseas.
“As Christmas embodies the spirit of giving and love, we aim to bring some hope to families in our community with these parcels,” said Wael Shaer, head of the local community group.
Following his outreach efforts, Shaer described the fulfillment of his mission as he delivered supplies to a woman struggling with her sick husband. This small act of kindness embodies the essence of Christmas as she expressed her gratitude and exchanged holiday wishes.
With a hopeful heart, Shaer concluded, “Mission accomplished! Spreading a little cheer at Christmas.”
