Bethlehem's Holiday Tree Lighting Lights Up for the First Time After the Start of the Gaza War

For two years amid the conflict in Gaza, all public celebrations marking the holiday season were called off in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. This city is where the faithful hold Jesus was born.

But, following a recent truce, this sacred city determined that this year the festivities would return, as symbolised by the illumination of its customary, giant Christmas tree before the ancient Church of the Nativity.

"It's been a bad two years without celebration; no holiday, no jobs, no work," remarks Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "We're all living here on tourism and the tourist trade had fallen to zero."

The mayor accepts that the decision to restart festivities was not without debate, as suffering continues within Gaza – which affects members of the small Christian population, many of whom have relatives to Bethlehem.

"Some may say it's not appropriate while others contend it's appropriate," the mayor notes. "However, in my heart, I felt that this was the right thing to take because the Christmas season should never be halted or abandoned. This represents the light of hope for our community."

A Glimmer of Festivity Returns

Residents – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – take photographs before the tree decorated with red and gold baubles in Manger Square. They are joined by a small number of international visitors.

Brightly coloured lights now adorn the streets with signs advertising holiday markets and children's parties.

"We are delighted to see the tree, first of all, and to see foreigners in Bethlehem and to have the chance to celebrate Christmas in its true spirit," comments local jewellery designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This is where it all started, therefore here is where we can convey a message to the world of what really Christmas should be about. And now, if Christmas is peaceful, I sincerely hope it will deliver a nice message for the whole world."

Economic Prospects and Challenges

The neighbouring towns of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour also intend to light holiday trees in the coming days. Hotels – which have remained mostly vacant for the past two years – have an influx of bookings from Palestinian citizens of Israel as well as certain international tourists.

A visitor from Russia, Angelica, is making her second pilgrimage to this region. "In my view everyone needs to come at minimum one time during their lifetime," she says.

"I wish many visitors will return soon because it's sad with few tourists. The sole aspect that's good is there are no long lines – you can come and see more things. When I came before it was necessary to wait in a queue for hours minimum."

For now, the gift shops scattered throughout the city experience scant trade, and near the cream-coloured walls of the Church of the Nativity, which originate from the Fourth Century, guides largely stand idle. Prior to the Gaza war, it was typically packed with visitors.

"This is a city for tourists; without tourism there is no life," expresses one guide Hamza. "We aspire to have people coming back as in the past: from European nations, the Middle Eastern region, America, Latin America and everywhere. We begin with lighting the tree, and then we will wait."

The Persistent Economic Impact

Over the last two years, unemployment has skyrocketed within Bethlehem. Since the lethal attacks led by Hamas in southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war, tens of thousands of Palestinian labourers from the West Bank region have been blocked from entering Israel and Israeli settlements for work.

At the same time, government employees have been paid only partial salaries from the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs areas within the West Bank. The Authority depends on tax income gathered by Israel, which it is currently holding – to the tune of $1.76 billion, as reported by the UN's trade and development agency.

Israel says it is holding the funds because the Authority provides payments to Palestinian prisoners that incentivise violence against Israelis. The PA – facing international pressure to enact reforms – claims it has lately modified its welfare system.

A Modest Holiday

The bleak economic situation implies that for many Palestinian Christians, even though there are now public festivities in addition to religious ceremonies, it will constitute an austere Christmas.

On the periphery of the square, some patrons wait to buy sizzling balls of falafel from a row of shops.

"We are getting ready for Christmas following one of our most challenging times as a Palestinian people and as a Christian community," states Alaa Salameh, who runs a restaurant called Afteem, a decades-old family restaurant which has seen its revenues collapse. He says lately numerous families could not even afford falafel – a cheap, traditional snack.

"The faithful will attempt to celebrate but based on their situation," Mr Salameh anticipates. "An individual wishing to bring their children to a festival or the theatre or whatever, he doesn't have the funds to expend on these celebrations."

Hopes for Peace and Prosperity

In the cave-like grotto at the base of the Nativity Church, a local woman accompanies a small Indian tour group, bending down by a silver star which marks the location where tradition states that Jesus was born and lighting a candle nearby.

With tensions still high throughout the area, people in Bethlehem say they are praying for tranquility – and hoping for tourists to come back to the place where it is believed where Christmas started.