BETHLEHEM, West Financial institution (AP) — The generally bustling biblical birthplace of Jesus resembled a ghost the town on Sunday, as Christmas Eve celebrations in Bethlehem had been known as off because of the Israel-Hamas conflict.The festive lighting and Christmas tree that generally beautify Manger Sq. had been lacking, as had been the throngs of overseas vacationers and jubilant adolescence marching bands that acquire within the West Financial institution the town each and every 12 months to mark the vacation. Dozens of Palestinian safety forces patrolled the empty sq.. “This 12 months, with out the Christmas tree and with out lighting, there’s simply darkness,” stated Brother John Vinh, a Franciscan monk from Vietnam who has lived in Jerusalem for 6 years.
He stated he at all times involves Bethlehem to mark Christmas, however this 12 months used to be particularly sobering, as he gazed at a nativity scene in Manger Sq. with a child Jesus wrapped in a white shroud, paying homage to the 1000’s of youngsters killed within the preventing in Gaza. Barbed cord surrounded the scene, the gray rubble reflecting not one of the joyous lighting and bursts of colour that generally fill the sq. throughout the Christmas season.
A nativity scene embellished to honor the sufferers in Gaza is displayed in Manger Sq., close to the Nativity Church, which is historically believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, on Christmas Eve, within the West Financial institution town of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Bethlehem is having a subdued Christmas after officers in Jesus’ conventional birthplace determined to forgo celebrations because of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (AP Photograph/Mahmoud Illean)
The cancellation of Christmas festivities is a serious blow to the city’s financial system. Tourism accounts for an estimated 70% of Bethlehem’s source of revenue — nearly all of that throughout the Christmas season.
With many main airways canceling flights to Israel, few foreigners are visiting. Native officers say over 70 accommodations in Bethlehem were compelled to near, leaving 1000’s of folks unemployed.Reward stores had been gradual to open on Christmas Eve, despite the fact that a couple of did as soon as the rain had stopped pouring down. There have been few guests, alternatively.
“We will be able to’t justify placing out a tree and celebrating as customary, when some folks (in Gaza) don’t also have properties to visit,” stated Ala’a Salameh, one of the vital house owners of Afteem Eating place, a family-owned falafel eating place simply steps from the sq.. Salameh stated Christmas Eve is most often the busiest day of the 12 months. “In most cases, you’ll’t discover a unmarried chair to take a seat, we’re complete from morning until nighttime,” stated Salameh. This 12 months, only one desk used to be taken, by way of reporters taking a destroy from the rain.Below a banner that learn “Bethlehem’s Christmas bells ring for a cease-fire in Gaza,” a couple of youngsters introduced small inflatable Santas, however no person used to be purchasing. As a substitute in their conventional musical march in the course of the streets of Bethlehem, younger scouts stood silently with flags. A gaggle of native scholars unfurled an enormous Palestinian flag as they stood in silence.“Our message yearly on Christmas is one among peace and love, however this 12 months it’s a message of unhappiness, grief and anger in entrance of the global group with what is occurring and happening within the Gaza Strip,” Bethlehem’s mayor, Hana Haniyeh, stated in an cope with to the gang.
A clergyman walks by way of the Church of the Nativity, historically believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, on Christmas Eve, within the West Financial institution town of Bethlehem, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2023. Bethlehem is having a subdued Christmas after officers in Jesus’ conventional birthplace determined to forgo celebrations because of the Israel-Hamas conflict. (AP Photograph/Mahmoud Illean)
Over 20,000 Palestinians were killed and greater than 50,000 wounded throughout Israel’s air and floor offensive in opposition to Gaza’s Hamas rulers, in line with well being officers there, whilst some 85% of the territory’s 2.3 million citizens were displaced. The conflict used to be prompted by way of Hamas’ fatal attack Oct. 7 on southern Israel during which militants killed about 1,200 folks, maximum of them civilians, and took greater than 240 hostages.The Gaza conflict has been accompanied by way of a surge in violence, with some 300 Palestinians killed by way of Israeli fireplace. The preventing has affected lifestyles around the West Financial institution. Since Oct. 7, get right of entry to to Bethlehem and different Palestinian cities within the Israeli-occupied territory has been tough, with lengthy strains of motorists ready to go army checkpoints. The constraints have additionally averted tens of 1000’s of Palestinians from exiting the territory to paintings in Israel.Amir Michael Giacaman opened his retailer, “Il Bambino,” which sells olive wooden carvings and different souvenirs, for the primary time since Oct. 7. There were no vacationers, and few native citizens have cash to spare as a result of those that labored in Israel were caught at house.“When folks have more money, they move purchase meals,” stated his spouse, Safa Giacaman. “This 12 months, we’re telling the Christmas tale. We’re celebrating Jesus, no longer the tree, no longer Santa Claus, she stated, as their daughter Makaella ran across the abandoned retailer.
