Bethlehem Revives Christmas Celebrations After Two Years of Gaza War

Christmas celebrations returned to Bethlehem on Christmas Eve as thousands of residents gathered at Manger Square, restoring a sense of joy and tradition after two years of cancellations due to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The iconic Christmas tree, absent during the period of conflict, was reinstalled on Wednesday, marking a symbolic return of festivities in the city revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus. In previous years, the square had displayed a nativity scene depicting baby Jesus amid rubble and barbed wire, reflecting the devastation of the war in Gaza.

Leading this year’s celebrations, Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the highest-ranking Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, arrived in Bethlehem during the traditional procession from Jerusalem, calling for “a Christmas full of light.”

Addressing thousands of people in Manger Square, including Christians and Muslims, Cardinal Pizzaballa said he brought greetings from Gaza’s small Christian community, where he celebrated a pre-Christmas Mass days earlier. He noted that despite the destruction, there was a strong desire among residents to rebuild.

“We, all together, we decide to be the light, and the light of Bethlehem is the light of the world,” he said.

While the festive atmosphere lifted spirits, the effects of the war remain deeply felt in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, particularly in Bethlehem, where local authorities say about 80 percent of residents rely on tourism-related activities for their livelihoods.

Most of those celebrating were local residents, with only a few foreign visitors in attendance. However, some residents expressed optimism that tourism is gradually returning.

“Today is a day of joy, a day of hope, the beginning of the return of normal life here,” said Georgette Jackaman, a Bethlehem resident and tour guide whose Christian family has lived in the city for generations.

The renewed celebrations offered a moment of hope for a city seeking recovery after years of conflict and economic hardship.