December 25th 2024.
On a sombre Christmas Eve, the town of Bethlehem once again found itself under the shadow of war in Gaza. However, this year, the usual cheer and festive atmosphere that typically descends upon the West Bank during the Christmas week were nowhere to be found. The streets were devoid of the usual festive lights and giant tree that adorn Manger Square, and the usual throngs of foreign tourists were also missing.
Instead, Palestinian scouts marched silently through the streets, a stark contrast to their usual raucous brass marching band. Security forces were on high alert, arranging barriers near the Church of the Nativity, which stands atop the spot believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. Despite the efforts of a young boy selling balloons, there were no customers to buy them, highlighting the severe economic impact of the cancellation of Christmas festivities on the town.
According to Jiries Qumsiyeh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Tourism Ministry, the number of visitors to Bethlehem has drastically decreased from two million per year in 2019 to less than 100,000 in 2024, due to a combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and the surge of violence in the West Bank. This has been a severe blow to the town's economy, which heavily relies on tourism, especially during the Christmas season.
The violence in the West Bank, where hundreds of Palestinians and dozens of Israelis have been killed, has greatly hindered tourism. The ongoing restrictions and checkpoints imposed by Israeli forces have also prevented many Palestinians from leaving the territory to work in Israel, leading to a significant contraction of the Israeli economy.
In his Christmas Eve address, Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, acknowledged the sombre atmosphere in Bethlehem but expressed hope that next year would be better. He led a special pre-Christmas Mass in the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, where several Palestinian Christians have sought refuge since the war began in October of last year.
Meanwhile, in Paris, worshippers found connection despite the difficult times. About 2,000 people attended a Christmas Eve Mass at the recently reopened Notre Dame Cathedral, which had suffered a devastating fire in 2019. Despite the challenges faced by the residents of Bethlehem and others around the world, the spirit of Christmas and the message of hope and peace continue to prevail.
As Christmas Eve fell upon the town of Bethlehem, the atmosphere was anything but festive. Despite being the traditional birthplace of Jesus, the shadow of war in nearby Gaza cast a sombre tone over the usually cheery West Bank. The bustling streets were devoid of the usual cheer and excitement that typically accompanies the holiday season. The brightly lit decorations and towering Christmas tree that normally adorn Manger Square were noticeably absent, as were the throngs of foreign tourists who usually flock to the town.
Instead, Palestinian scouts marched silently through the streets, a stark contrast to their usual lively brass band performances. Security forces were on high alert, setting up barriers near the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus is believed to have been born. Despite the lack of visitors, a young boy still stood on the street corner trying to sell balloons, but with no customers in sight, he eventually gave up.
The cancellation of Christmas festivities has dealt a severe blow to the town's economy, which heavily relies on tourism. In fact, it is estimated that 70% of Bethlehem's income comes from tourism, mostly during the Christmas season. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a surge of violence in the West Bank, the number of visitors has plummeted from 2 million in 2019 to less than 100,000 in 2024, according to Jiries Qumsiyeh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Tourism Ministry.
The violence has also greatly affected the daily lives of Palestinians, with restricted access to and from Bethlehem and other towns in the West Bank due to Israeli military checkpoints. This has caused a decline in the number of Palestinians able to work in Israel, leading to a 25% contraction in the Israeli economy. Since the start of the war in October of last year, over 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire and dozens of Israelis have been killed in militant attacks. The exact breakdown of civilian casualties versus fighters is not provided by Palestinian officials.
Amidst all this turmoil, Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, held a special Christmas Eve Mass in the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza City. He also addressed the dwindling crowd gathered in Manger Square, expressing hope for a better Christmas next year. Many Palestinian Christians have been displaced due to the violence, with some seeking refuge in the church with little food and water. One woman, Najla Tarazi, prayed for the war to end so that they may celebrate Christmas at home in the future.
While Bethlehem is a significant location in the history of Christianity, the Christian population in the Holy Land makes up only a small percentage of the overall population, with about 182,000 in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the US State Department.
Despite the challenges faced in Bethlehem, there were still moments of hope and connection for worshippers around the world. In Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral held its first Christmas Eve Mass since the devastating fire that ravaged the landmark in 2019. About 2,000 people attended the afternoon Mass, marveling at the restoration of the centuries-old cathedral. As the world continues to grapple with difficult times, these small moments of peace and unity offer a glimmer of hope for a better future.
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