Thousands flocked to Bethlehem—marking the first time since the U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas peace deal was implemented.
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, launched the celebrations with a traditional procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, calling for “a Christmas full of light,” as reported. Upon arriving at Manger Square—named after the manger where Christian tradition holds Jesus was placed after birth—Pizzaballa shared that he brought greetings from Gaza’s Christian community, where he led a pre-Christmas Mass on Sunday, per the AP.
“Together, we choose to be the light, and the light of Bethlehem is the light of the world,” Pizzaballa told the crowd, according to the AP.
In November, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati announced the city would resume Christmas celebrations.
“From the heart of Bethlehem—Christ’s birthplace and the city of peace—we once again ignite the flame of hope and lift our prayers for peace,” Canawati said in an Instagram video.
“Let us celebrate the Christmas message together,” he added. “In the highest—peace on Earth, goodwill to all. Bethlehem keeps the light alive.”
Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born, kicked off its Christmas festivities on Dec. 6 with the city’s first Christmas tree lighting since 2022.
“We came to celebrate, watch, and enjoy because we haven’t had the chance for several years,” Randa Bsoul, a Palestinian from [location], told Reuters at the time.
Bethlehem—where the Palestinian Authority has limited control under the Oslo Accords—saw few, if any, Christmas celebrations over the past two years due to the Gaza war. During the conflict, Manger Square featured a nativity scene of baby Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire in tribute to Gaza’s situation.
As a tourism-dependent city, Bethlehem experienced a massive drop in visitors during the war. Canawati told the AP earlier this month that the city’s unemployment rate jumped from 14% to 65%. Additionally, poverty surged, leaving around 4,000 people searching for work.
The U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal has largely held, despite both sides accusing each other of violations. Recently, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated preparations for the plan’s second phase are underway, following high-level talks in Miami with representatives from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella and