No Christmas Bells in Bethlehem as Palestinians Mourn Losses in Gaza
At this time of year, thousands of tourists from all over the world typically flock to Bethlehem. This year, however, the war has scared away tourists and pilgrims from the Palestinian town.
Manger Square, right outside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, takes center stage during Christmas celebrations. This year, however, there is no sign of Christmas in the square.
Overshadowed by war in Gaza, Christmas festivities have been canceled.
Palestinian Christians say they can’t celebrate while the onslaught on Gaza continues.
We canceled all festivities and celebrations, and we will not hang any lights or decorations this year
The mayor of Bethlehem, Hanna Hanania, told The Media Line, “We canceled all festivities and celebrations, and we will not hang any lights or decorations this year.”
“We even removed the decorations and lights; we will not celebrate. We are in mourning, and we feel sad about what is happening in the Gaza Strip,” Hanania added.
In solidarity with Gaza, Bethlehem’s main churches have decided to cancel all Christmas festivities this year. The Palestinian city, known as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, agreed that celebrations would be limited to only religious ceremonies inside the church.
“This year, Christmas is different. Beit Lehem is sad. We are lamenting and are concerned. We’re not celebrating in a normal way because we are concerned about our families in Gaza, our people,” Pastor Munther Ishaq of Bethlehem’s Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church told The Media Line.
Rather than having normal celebrations, we thought of a way to send a message to our people, first, about the meaning of Christmas, that also sends a message to the world
Pastor Ishaq’s Lutheran church put up its traditional nativity scene but with a sad and symbolic twist. Baby Jesus is wrapped in a Palestinian head scarf, or keffiyeh, and surrounded by rubble of broken bricks, stones, and tiles that represent the current destruction in Gaza.
“Rather than having normal celebrations, we thought of a way to send a message to our people, first, about the meaning of Christmas, that also sends a message to the world,” added Pastor Ishaq.
The war began on Oct. 7 in response to Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, which left about 1,200 dead. More than 20,000 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces, the majority of whom are children and women. Pastor Ishaq said his congregation couldn’t sit idle; they had to do something.
“While the world is celebrating and singing about Beit Lehem, let’s remember that right now in Palestine, children are being killed and pulled from under the rubble. Homes are destroyed, families are displaced,” he lamented.
At this time of year, thousands of tourists from all over the world typically flock to Bethlehem. This year, however, the war has scared away tourists and pilgrims from the Palestinian town.
Many store owners have chosen to close their doors. Those who have decided to remain open spend their time sitting outside their stores.
While the world is celebrating and singing about Beit Lehem, let’s remember that right now in Palestine, children are being killed and pulled from under the rubble
Aboud Sobih, a tour guide, told The Media Line that while this year had been looking up tourism-wise, since the war in Gaza erupted, all of his tours were canceled. He now spends his time at his family’s gift shop a few steps away from Manger Square.
“We bring a lot of goods in preparation for the season, but unfortunately there are no sales. We haven’t seen any tourists come to buy some stuff. What you can do? Nothing,” said Sobih.
Hotel owner Elias Al-Arja told The Media Line that until Oct. 7, his business was booming. He had even started recovering from the post-Corona period.
But he has had to let all his employees go.
“Reservations were over 100%. There were not enough rooms for sale this season, but all these reservations were canceled after the 7th of October, [and remain canceled] until the Easter season,” said Al-Arja.
Wood factory owner Mahran Hawash, who sells ornaments and other handmade Christmas decorations to souvenir shops, told The Media Line that despite this being their biggest season, Hawash has had to close his factory’s doors and downsize, like many business owners in the city.
Describing the situation this year as the worst it’s ever been, he said, “We had a lot of work this year for the local market in preparation for a very excellent Christmas season. I needed ten more workers. But after October 7, everything stopped. There is no sale at all. Zero,” concluded Hawash.
