Bethlehem's Christmas Tree Lights Up Once Again After the Start of the Gaza War

Throughout a two-year period amid the conflict in Gaza, every festive public event marking the holiday season were cancelled within the city of Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This city is where the faithful hold Jesus was born.

However, after a recent truce, this sacred city decided that this year the festivities would return, as symbolised by the lighting of its traditional, large holiday tree before the ancient Church of the Nativity.

"We have endured a bad two years of silence; no holiday, no employment, no work," states the city's mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here on tourism and tourism was down to nothing."

The mayor acknowledges that the decision to restart festivities was not without debate, given the ongoing hardship in Gaza – which affects those in its small Christian population, who often have family ties in Bethlehem.

"Some may say it is unsuitable while others contend it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "However, in my heart, I believed this constituted the correct action to do because the Christmas season must never be halted or abandoned. This is the light of hope for our community."

A Glimmer of Celebration Reappears

Locals – both Christians and Muslims – pose for selfies before the tree decorated with gold and red ornaments in Manger Square. They are joined by a handful of international visitors.

Brightly coloured lights now decorate city streets and there are signs advertising Christmas bazaars and children's parties.

"We're very happy to see the tree, first thing, and to see foreigners in Bethlehem and to be able to celebrate Christmas in its authentic spirit," comments local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This place is where it all started, therefore here is where we can convey a message to the world of what really Christmas represents. And now, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will bring a positive message for the entire world."

Economic Prospects and Difficulties

Nearby towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to illuminate holiday trees soon. Local hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for the past two years – are seeing a rise in reservations from Arab citizens of Israel along with some foreign visitors.

One tourist from Russia, named Angelica, is making her second pilgrimage to this region. "In my view everyone needs to come at least once in their life," she states.

"I hope many visitors will soon come back as it is sorrowful without many tourists. The sole aspect that's good is there are no lengthy queues – you can come and experience more. When I came before you had to wait in line for a few hours minimum."

Currently, the souvenir stores dotted around the city have little business, and outside the cream-coloured walls of the Church of the Nativity, which date back to the Fourth Century, tour guides largely stand idle. Before the conflict, it was typically packed with visitors.

"Bethlehem is a tourist city; without tourism there is no livelihood," laments one guide Hamza. "We aspire to see individuals returning as in the past: from European nations, the Middle East, America, Latin American and all over. We start with lighting the tree, and we'll wait."

The Lingering Economic Impact

In the past two years, joblessness has soared in Bethlehem. Since the deadly Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel during October 2023 which triggered the conflict, tens of thousands of Palestinian labourers from the West Bank have been blocked from entering Israel and Israeli settlements to work.

Meanwhile, government employees have been paid only partial salaries from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs areas within the West Bank. The PA depends on tax revenues gathered by Israel, which it is withholding – amounting to 1.76 billion dollars, according to the UN's trade and development agency.

Israeli officials state they are retaining the funds due to the fact that the Authority provides payments to Palestinian prisoners that encourage attacks on Israelis. The authority – which has been under global pressure to enact reforms – claims it has recently changed its social welfare system.

A Modest Holiday

The grim economic outlook means that for many Christian Palestinians, despite the fact that there are now public festivities in addition to religious services, it will constitute a subdued holiday season.

On the periphery of the square, a few customers are waiting to buy sizzling balls of falafel from a row of shops.

"We're preparing for the holiday following one of our hardest periods as Palestinians and as a Christian community," states one restaurant owner, an owner of a restaurant called Afteem, a decades-old family-run eatery which has seen its revenues collapse. He says lately many families could not even purchase falafel – a cheap, traditional food.

"Christians will try to celebrate but based on their circumstances," Mr Salameh expects. "An individual wishing to bring their children to a festival or a show or similar, they lack the money to expend for this celebration."

Prayers for Calm and Recovery

Within the grotto beneath the church, a local woman accompanies a small Indian tour group, bending down near a silver star that indicates the spot where it is said that Jesus was born and lighting a light close by.

With tensions still high across the region, Bethlehem residents say they are praying for peace – and wishing for visitors to return to the location which is thought to be Christmas began.