Bethlehem Cancels Christmas As Israel-Hamas War Rages On; Christmas in the Crossfire: Visiting Bethlehem Amid Israel-Hamas War

Bethlehem cancels Christmas as Israel-Hamas war rages on:

The city of Jesus’ birth has canceled its annual Christmas celebrations out of respect for the ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip, nearly three months into the war between Israel and Hamas.

Bethlehem – or Beit Lechem, located in what is now the Israeli-occupied West Bank – is typically flooded with pilgrims and other celebrants in late December, NPR reported.

This year, however, the festivities are pared back to a razor wire-protected nativity scene at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church of an infant Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh, surrounded by rubble.

A similar installation will also be placed in Manger Square before Sunday, which is Christmas Eve.

Meanwhile, the Church of the Nativity – which dates back to the sixth century – is practically empty as the usual 6,000 daily visitors that descend on Bethlehem at Christmastime has trickled down to less than 1,000 in one month, the Washington Post reported.

The mournful mood was the joint decision of multiple Palestinian Christian leaders, who came together last month to cancel the public celebrations in light of the war in Gaza, NPR explained.

As a result, the usual parade of 28 Boy Scout troops accompanying the Latin Patriarch’s procession into the city will be reduced to one, silent troop holding Bible verses on peace and possibly photographs of Gazan children, the Washington Post added.

Christian and secular leaders in Bethlehem have vocally condemned Hamas’ surprise terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed about 1,200 people and saw at least 240 others taken hostage, the Washington Post noted. ––>READ MORE HERE

Photo Credit: MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN

Christmas in the crossfire: Visiting Bethlehem amid Israel-Hamas war:

A small group of Roman Catholic priests clad in traditional black robes gathered in front of the Church of Nativity on Friday. Despite the brisk wind sweeping through the air and chilling the surroundings, their smiles remained warm as they captured a collective moment in a group photograph.

On that Friday, the priests stood alone in Manger Square, starkly contrasting with the usual bustling scene outside the church just two days before Christmas. In a “normal” year, the space would teem with passersby, but this year, it was devoid of pilgrims. The festive atmosphere was notably absent—no Santas, no Christmas tree.

This year, the city canceled all festivities because of the Israel-Hamas war, casting a solemn shadow over what would typically be a joyous occasion.

“We are here celebrating Christmas,” Father Benny Dibitonto told The Jerusalem Post. He is a spiritual leader from Jerusalem with colleagues from the same denomination who have churches in Haifa, Tiberius, Jaffa, and other parts of Israel. “We must celebrate before or after the holiday because we are ‘on duty’ on Christmas. We came here to be together and for our spirituality.”

Dibitonto looked around. “Usually, it is so decorative,” he said with a sigh. “But I guess this year it is like the first Christmas.”

Jesus is believed to have been born in a cave below the Church of the Nativity. However, the priest explained, nobody knew when he was born. There were no Christmas presents, decorations, candies or eggnog back then.

“It takes us back to the roots” of the holiday, Dibitonto said, “although our hearts are broken because of the war. Our parishioners are at war. Our brothers and sisters in Gaza are suffering. We pray for them all – for both sides, of course.” —>READ MORE HERE

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