At this time every year, Bethlehem was crowded with Christian pilgrims and tourists visiting the city to celebrate Christmas. Celebrations were held and the Christmas tree, which was considered one of the most important Christmas trees of the year, was lit.

Unusually, the cradle of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, was not decorated this year with Christmas decorations, including the Bethlehem tree, while Israel continues its war in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians in the West Bank and Bethlehem in particular say that “there is no Eid this year while Israel continues its war of extermination against the children of the Gaza Strip.”

In the Church of the Nativity, which was built on the cave in which Jesus Christ was born, prayers are held for the children of Gaza, while the square appears almost empty of passers-by and tourists.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which as of the evening of the day before yesterday, Tuesday, left 16,248 martyrs, including 7,112 children and 4,885 women, in addition to 43,616 wounded, in addition to massive destruction of infrastructure. It is an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” according to official Palestinian and UN sources.

The alleys of the Old City and the walls of the most important church for Christians in the world were devoid of any signs of decoration and celebration. Manger Square, which always witnesses active activity and where a Christmas tree is erected every year, seemed almost empty except for local residents.

Bethlehem is a historical city, located in the south of the West Bank. It gains its sanctity from the presence of the “Church of the Nativity,” in which Christians believe that Christ, Jesus, son of Mary, was born on the site on which it was built.

Source: Arab48

Bethlehem, the war on Gaza, the Al-Aqsa Flood, Palestine, Jesus Christ, the Church of the Nativity