Bethlehem marks sombre Christmas under the shadow of war in Gaza

NEWS WIRES

24 December 2024 at 6:17 am·1-min read

Palestinian security forces deployed around the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank holy city of Bethlehem on Tuesday with the war in Gaza casting a long shadow over the city's usual celebrations. Missing were the decorations, tourists and pilgrims that were staples of Christmases past.

Palestinian security forces have been deployed around the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, as the faithful prepared for another solemn Christmas overshadowed by the war in Gaza.

An unusual calm enveloped Manger Square, the heart of the Palestinian city dominated by the revered church that marks the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born.

The white-walled compound and its surrounding plaza were empty, save for a few vendors selling coffee and corn and a significant contingent of journalists, an AFP reporter saw.

Missing for a second consecutive year were the decorations, bustling tourists and crowds of pilgrims that were staples of Christmases past, reflecting the sombre mood as the war between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip drags on.

The fighting in Gaza -- which is separated from the occupied West Bank by a swath of Israeli territory -- erupted after Hamas's deadly attack on Israel on October 7 last year.

"This year we limited our joy," Bethlehem mayor Anton Salman told AFP.

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