Bethlehem, Palestinian Territories—Christmas cheer returned to the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ as Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank lit up a tree for the first time since the war in Gaza began over two years ago.
Covered in red and gold baubles, the Christmas tree standing meters away from the Church of the Nativity on Manger Square has become a symbol of hope.
It is the first time the city has held the usual celebrations since the outbreak of the war in Gaza following Hamas’ attack on Israel in October 2023.
“It’s like a symbol for resilience,” said 27-year-old Abeer Shtaya, who works at Al-Zaytoonah University of Science and Technology in Salfit in the West Bank.
She had traveled 100 kilometers (60 miles) with a group of the university’s students because “we want to celebrate and be with our brothers and sisters in Bethlehem to enjoy this day.”
“It’s a message for the world that it’s calm,” Mike Shahen, 43, said at his ceramic store on the square, after a handful of visitors came in for purchases.
Thousands of people attended, including Christians and Muslims, and many who travelled from Palestinian territories and Israel—some from even further afield—to enjoy the festive spirit return.
Nuns could be seen watching from one roof, while many families including small children filled balconies and roofs to catch a glimpse of the tree lit up.
Sounds of laughter filled the air as many could not help but smile despite moments of rain.
“This event didn’t happen for the last two years because of the war and it’s quite emotional after two years of nothing but war and death,” said 50-year-old Liyu Lu, who had traveled from northern Israel, close to the border with Lebanon.
Originally from China but now living in Israel for decades, she was with a group including Gary Lau, a traveling businessman and Christian staying in Jerusalem for the past couple of months.
“Being here, with the festivities, is something very nice and special,” Lau, 51, said, adding he was “taking in the atmosphere.”
For the past two years, Bethlehem has celebrated Christmas in a more sombre manner, with no major public festivities.
Christian pilgrims, especially from Asia, South America and eastern Europe have, however, slowly returned in the past few months.
Fabien Safar, guide and director of Terra Dei which organises pilgrimages to the Holy Land, said a few small groups would come for Christmas this year and he already saw some bookings for 2026.
Safar expected a real recovery in 2027 but “this obviously depends on how the situation evolves” in Gaza and Lebanon.
Despite a November 2024 ceasefire that was supposed to end more than a year of hostilities between Israel and militant group Hezbollah, Israel has kept up strikes on Lebanon.
Pilgrims “remain afraid because there’s no official end to the war” in Gaza, Safar said, adding they were also worried about the situation in Lebanon.
Many visitors from Israel and the Palestinian territories spent hours on the road to reach Bethlehem including musician Lu.
War isn’t the only reason for Bethlehem’s woes.
Since the 2023 Hamas attack, it is more difficult to travel around the West Bank with long queues on the roads with Israeli military checkpoints.
Violence in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has also surged since the Gaza war. It has not stopped despite the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas that began this October.
