December 24th 2024.
As the holiday season approached, children excitedly gathered at the Church of the Nativity to take pictures with Santa. However, in the town of Bethlehem, located in the occupied West Bank, the festive spirit was dampened by the ongoing war in Gaza.
Traditionally, Bethlehem is a popular tourist destination during Christmas, with thousands of visitors flocking to see the iconic Manger Square adorned with a grand Christmas tree and twinkling lights. But this year, the square was empty and the decorations were nowhere to be seen. The Palestinian security forces had set up barriers around the Nativity Church, which is built on the very spot where Jesus is believed to have been born.
Mayor Anton Salman, while expressing the town's message of peace and hope, also highlighted the suffering of the Palestinian people and urged the world to take action. The war between Israel and Hamas, which began on October 7, 2023, has taken a toll on Bethlehem's economy, with a significant decrease in tourism. According to Jiries Qumsiyeh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian Tourism Ministry, the number of visitors dropped from 2 million in 2019 to just 100,000 in 2024.
Despite the somber atmosphere, the Church of the Nativity did not hold back on its decorations. Clergymen participated in a traditional Christian procession towards the church, and the walls of the city were adorned with beautiful murals. However, the impact of the war was still visible, with many murals covering the separation barrier in Bethlehem.
Tourism plays a crucial role in Bethlehem's economy, accounting for an estimated 70% of its income, mostly during the Christmas season. However, the unemployment rate has skyrocketed to 50%, according to Mayor Salman. But the town's top Roman Catholic cleric, Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, remains hopeful for a better future.
In his address to a crowd of hundreds in Manger Square, Cardinal Pizzaballa expressed his desire for next year's Christmas to be a happier one. He also conveyed the greetings and prayers of the people of Gaza, where he held a special pre-Christmas mass at Holy Family Church on Sunday. Despite witnessing the destruction, poverty, and disaster caused by the war, the Cardinal was inspired by the resilience and determination of the people in Gaza.
While Bethlehem holds great significance in the history of Christianity, the number of Christians living in the Holy Land is relatively small, with only around 182,000 in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the US State Department.
The war in Gaza has not only affected tourism but has also led to an increase in violence in the West Bank. More than 800 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, and dozens of Israelis have lost their lives in militant attacks. The ongoing conflict has also made travel to and from Bethlehem and other Palestinian towns challenging, with long lines of cars waiting at Israeli military checkpoints.
The war has had a devastating impact on Gaza, with over 45,000 Palestinians killed and 90% of the population displaced. While officials claim that more than half of the casualties are women and children, there is no clear distinction between civilians and fighters.
Despite the challenges and hardships faced by the people of Bethlehem and Gaza, they continue to hold on to hope and faith. As Santa greeted Cardinal Pizzaballa and worshippers prayed at the believed birthplace of Jesus, the message of peace and perseverance rang loud and clear.
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