Bethlehem, town within the occupied West Financial institution that Christians consider is the birthplace of Jesus Christ, marks one other solemn Christmas below the shadow of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
On Christmas Eve on Tuesday, the city was bereft of its typical vacation cheer, with no lights nor an enormous tree adorning its central Manger Sq., no crowds of vacationers, and no marching youth bands that in any other case mark the event.
“This yr, we restricted our pleasure,” Bethlehem mayor Anton Salman informed the AFP information company.
Prayers, together with the Church of Nativity’s famed midnight mass, will nonetheless be held within the presence of the Catholic Church’s Latin Patriarch, however the festivities shall be of a extra strictly non secular nature than the festive celebrations town as soon as held.
Palestinian scouts marched silently by means of the streets, a departure from their typical raucous brass marching band. Some carried an indication that learn, “We wish life, not dying.”
Palestinian safety forces, in the meantime, organized limitations close to the Nativity Church, constructed atop the spot the place Jesus is believed to have been born, and a employee cleared garbage bins.
“All the time the message of Bethlehem is a message of peace and hope,” mentioned Salman. “And lately, we’re additionally sending our message to the world: peace and hope, however insisting that the world should work to finish our struggling as Palestinian individuals.”
Al Jazeera’s Nida Ibrahim, reporting from Manger Sq., mentioned earlier than the battle, the central hub was crammed with individuals on Christmas.
“There could be lights in all places. Additionally, there could be a centre stage the place songs and Christmas carols could be carried out in preparation for this festive season,” she mentioned.
In Bethlehem, Christmas was not only a celebration for Christians – it was a nationwide vacation the place Muslims and Christians alike “felt it was an opportunity for them to really feel some pleasure as they dwell below decades-long navy occupation”, she added.
Ibrahim mentioned the city’s residents had been “deeply pained” to see the Palestinians in Gaza dealing with continued bombardment, which has killed greater than 45,000 individuals since October final yr.
Blow to Bethlehem’s financial system
The cancellation of Christmas festivities is a extreme blow to the city’s financial system, which is already struggling on account of restrictions below the Israeli occupation, Ibrahim mentioned.
Tourism accounts for an estimated 70 % of Bethlehem’s earnings – virtually all of it from the Christmas season.
Mayor Salman mentioned unemployment within the city is hovering round 50 % – greater than the 30 % unemployment throughout the remainder of the West Financial institution, in response to the Palestinian Finance Ministry.
The variety of guests to the city plunged from a pre-COVID excessive of roughly 2 million guests per yr in 2019 to fewer than 100,000 guests in 2024, mentioned Jiries Qumsiyeh, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Tourism Ministry.
Mohammad Awad, 57, has been promoting espresso for greater than 25 years on the foot of the Mosque of Omar, which stands instantly reverse town’s famed church.
“Enterprise was good earlier than the battle, however now there’s nobody,” the seller informed AFP. “I hope the battle in Gaza will finish quickly and that vacationers will return.”
Israeli violence in opposition to Palestinians – from each settlers and navy forces alike – has surged throughout the occupied West Financial institution for the reason that battle in Gaza broke out, however Bethlehem has remained largely quiet.
Restrictions after the battle have additionally prevented some 150,000 Palestinians from leaving the territory to work in Israel, inflicting the financial system there to contract by 25 %.
