Bethlehem’s Christmas festivities called off due to war
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) —The Christmas Eve celebrations in the normally bustling biblical birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem are subdued this year, marred by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
The pandemic has cast a shadow over the festivities this year. The festive lights and Christmas trees that usually decorate Manger Square are missing. Absent are the joyful sounds of foreign tourists and jubilant youth. Dozens of Palestinian security forces patrolled the empty square, with a nativity scene decorated to honor the victims in Gaza displayed nearby. For Brother John Vinh, a Franciscan monk from Vietnam, this Christmas is particularly somber.
Bethlehem’s economy relies heavily on tourism, with over 70 hotels being forced to close due to the lack of business. Despite slow business, the message of peace and love provided by local teenagers has not been deterred. With casualties amounting to 20,000 and 50,000 wounded, the impact of the war is felt across the West Bank, with access to Bethlehem and other Palestinian towns being restricted by long lines of motorists at military checkpoints.
As the war rages on, the spirit of the Bethlehem locals perseveres, celebrating Jesus while hoping for a ceasefire in Gaza. Though this year is notably somber, the message of peace and love continues to represent the spirit of Christmas regardless of the war that resounds from the surrounding territories.