The Holiday Tree Lighting Lights Up Once Again Since the Start of the Gaza War

Throughout a two-year period during the Gaza war, every festive public event marking the holiday season were cancelled within the city of Bethlehem located in the West Bank. This city is where Christians believe Jesus was born.

But, after the recent ceasefire, the holy city decided that now celebrations would return, as symbolised by the illumination of its customary, giant Christmas tree in front of the ancient Church of the Nativity.

"We have endured a bad two years without celebration; no Christmas, no employment, no income," remarks Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati. "Our community survives on tourism and the tourist trade had fallen to zero."

The mayor accepts that the idea of resuming celebrations was not without controversy, given the ongoing hardship in Gaza – including for those in its small Christian population, who often have relatives to Bethlehem.

"Some may say it's not appropriate and others say it is fitting," Mr Canawati explains. "But deep inside my heart, I believed that this was the right thing to do because the Christmas season must never be stopped or cancelled. This represents a beacon of hope for our community."

A Spark of Festivity Reappears

Residents – from both Christian and Muslim faiths – take photographs in front of the tree decorated with gold and red ornaments at Manger Square. They are accompanied by a handful of international visitors.

Vibrant lights now decorate city streets with signs promoting holiday markets and festive events for children.

"We're very happy to see the tree, first of all, and to see foreigners in Bethlehem and to have the chance to celebrate Christmas in its authentic spirit," says Bethlehem designer Nadya Hazboun.

"This is where it all started, so this is where we can send the message to the world of what really Christmas should be about. And now, if the season is calm, I sincerely hope it will bring a positive message for the whole world."

Economic Prospects and Challenges

The neighbouring towns including Beit Jala and Beit Sahour are also planning to illuminate holiday trees soon. Local hotels – which have stood mostly vacant for two years – are seeing a rise in reservations from Arab citizens of Israel along with certain international tourists.

One tourist from Russia, Angelica, is on her second pilgrimage to this region. "In my view every person should visit at least once during their lifetime," she states.

"I wish a lot of people will soon come back as it is sorrowful without many tourists. The sole aspect that's good is that you don't have lengthy queues – one can visit and see more things. When I came before you had to wait in line for a few hours minimum."

For now, the souvenir stores scattered throughout Bethlehem experience scant trade, and outside the cream-coloured walls of the Church of the Nativity, which date back to the 4th century, tour guides largely stand idle. Prior to the Gaza war, it was typically packed with visitors.

"Bethlehem is a tourist city; absent visitors there is no life," expresses a guide named Hamza. "We hope to have people returning like before: from European nations, the Middle Eastern region, America, Latin American and all over. We begin with lighting the tree, and then we will wait."

The Lingering Economic Impact

Over the last two years, unemployment has skyrocketed within Bethlehem. Since the lethal attacks led by Hamas on southern Israel in October 2023 that sparked the war, tens of thousands of Palestinian workers from the West Bank have been prevented from entering Israel and its settlements for work.

At the same time, government employees have been paid just a portion of their salaries by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – which governs areas within the West Bank. The Authority relies on tax income gathered by Israel, which it is withholding – amounting to $1.76 billion, as reported by the UN's trade and development agency.

Israeli officials state they are retaining these funds because the PA makes payments to Palestinian prisoners that incentivise violence against Israelis. The PA – which has been under global pressure to make reforms – claims it has recently changed its social welfare system.

A Modest Christmas Season

The grim economic situation implies that for numerous Christian Palestinians, even though there are now public events in addition to religious ceremonies, it will be an austere Christmas.

At the edge of the square, a few customers are waiting to buy hot balls of falafel from a row of shops.

"We are getting ready for the holiday after one of our hardest periods as Palestinians and as a Christian community," states Alaa Salameh, who runs a restaurant called Afteem, a long-established family restaurant which has seen its revenues collapse. He notes lately many families could not even afford falafel – a cheap, traditional food.

"Christians will try to mark the occasion but according to their circumstances," Mr Salameh expects. "Someone who wants to take his kids to a festival or a show or similar, he doesn't have the money to expend on these celebrations."

Prayers for Calm and Recovery

In the cave-like grotto beneath the church, a local woman follows a small Indian tour group, stooping down by a silver star which marks the spot where it is said Jesus was born and lighting a light nearby.

Amid ongoing high tensions throughout the area, people in Bethlehem say they are hoping for tranquility – and hoping for tourists to come back to the location which is thought to be where Christmas started.