Scouts maintain an indication that reads “We wish life, not loss of life” through the conventional Christian procession in direction of the Church of the Nativity, historically believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, on Christmas Eve, within the West Financial institution metropolis of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. —AP Picture/Matias Delacroix
BETHLEHEM, West Financial institution — Bethlehem marked one other somber Christmas Eve on Tuesday within the conventional birthplace of Jesus beneath the shadow of struggle in Gaza.
The joy and cheer that usually descends on the West Financial institution throughout Christmas week had been nowhere to be discovered. The festive lights and big tree that usually beautify Manger Sq. had been lacking, as had been the throngs of international vacationers that often fill the sq..
Palestinian scouts marched silently by way of the streets, a departure from their common raucous brass marching band. Safety forces organized obstacles close to the Church of the Nativity, constructed atop the spot the place Jesus is believed to have been born.
The cancellation of Christmas festivities is a extreme blow to the city’s economic system. Tourism accounts for an estimated 70% of Bethlehem’s earnings — nearly all from the Christmas season. Salman mentioned unemployment is hovering round 50% — larger than the 30% unemployment throughout the remainder of the West Financial institution, based on the Palestinian Finance Ministry.
Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the highest Roman Catholic cleric within the Holy Land, famous the shuttered retailers and empty streets and expressed hope that subsequent yr could be higher.
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“This must be the final Christmas that’s so unhappy,” he advised a whole lot of individuals gathered in Manger Sq., the place usually tens of 1000’s would congregate.
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Pizzaballa held a particular pre-Christmas Mass within the Church of the Holy Household in Gaza Metropolis. A number of Palestinian Christians advised the Related Press that they’ve been displaced within the church for the reason that struggle started in October of final yr with barely sufficient meals and water.
“We hope by subsequent yr on the identical day we’d be capable to have fun Christmas at our houses and go to Bethlehem,” mentioned Najla Tarazi, a displaced girl. “We hope to have fun in Jerusalem … and for the struggle to finish. That is crucial factor for us and crucial demand we now have today as a result of the scenario is actually laborious. We don’t really feel glad.”
Bethlehem is a crucial heart within the historical past of Christianity, however Christians make up solely a small proportion of the roughly 14 million folks unfold throughout the Holy Land. There are about 182,000 in Israel, 50,000 within the West Financial institution and Jerusalem and 1,300 in Gaza, based on the U.S. State Division.
The variety of guests to the city plunged from a pre-COVID excessive of round 2 million per yr in 2019 to fewer than 100,000 in 2024, mentioned Jiries Qumsiyeh, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Tourism Ministry.
After dusk, the golden partitions of the Church of the Nativity had been illuminated as a couple of dozen folks quietly milled about. A younger boy stood holding a pile of balloons on the market, however gave up as a result of there have been no prospects to purchase them.
The struggle in Gaza has deterred vacationers and has prompted a surge of violence within the West Financial institution, with greater than 800 Palestinians killed by Israeli hearth and dozens of Israelis killed in militant assaults. Palestinian officers don’t present a breakdown of how lots of the deceased are civilians and what number of are fighters.
For the reason that lethal Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas assault that sparked the struggle, entry to and from Bethlehem and different cities within the West Financial institution has been troublesome, with lengthy traces of motorists ready to go by way of Israeli army checkpoints. The restrictions have prevented some 150,000 Palestinians from leaving the territory to work in Israel, inflicting the economic system there to contract by 25%.
Within the Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 folks, most of them civilians, and took greater than 250 Israeli hostages. Israeli officers consider that round 100 hostages stay in captivity within the Gaza Strip.
Elsewhere, Christmas celebrations had been additionally subdued.
Syrians protest after Christmas tree burned
Scores of Syrian Christians protested Tuesday in Damascus, demanding safety after the burning of a Christmas tree in Hama the day earlier than.
Movies and pictures shared on social media confirmed the big, adorned tree burning at a roundabout in Suqalabiyah, a city within the Hama countryside. It stays unclear who was chargeable for setting the tree on hearth.
In a video that circulated on social media, a consultant of Syria’s new management, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, could possibly be seen visiting the location and addressing the group. He mentioned: “This act was dedicated by people who find themselves not Syrian, and they are going to be punished past your expectations.”
Germans mourn after Christmas market assault
German celebrations had been darkened by a automotive assault on a Christmas market on Friday that left 5 folks lifeless and 200 folks injured.
President Frank-Walter Steinmeier rewrote his annual recorded Christmas Day speech to handle the assault.
He plans to acknowledge that “there’s grief, ache, horror and incomprehension over what happened in Magdeburg,” whereas urging Germans to “stand collectively,” based on an early copy of the speech.
Heavy snow hits the Balkans
A snowstorm within the Balkans stranded drivers and downed energy traces, however some noticed the wonder in it.
“I’m truly glad its falling, particularly due to Christmas,” mentioned Mirsad Jasarevic in Zenica, Bosnia. “We didn’t have snow for Christmas for 17 years right here, and now could be the time for great white Christmas.”
Planes grounded in the USA
American Airways briefly grounded flights throughout the U.S. on Tuesday as a consequence of a technical drawback simply because the Christmas journey season kicked into overdrive. Winter climate threatened extra potential issues for these planning to fly or drive.
In the meantime, the flight-tracking web site FlightAware reported that 1,447 flights coming into or leaving the U.S., or serving home locations, had been delayed Tuesday, with 28 flights canceled.
Spanish ministries carry seafarers vacation cheer
Within the port of Barcelona, Spain, volunteers from the faith-based ministry Stella Maris visited seven ships docked there on Christmas Eve to ship Nativity scenes and the native specialty of turrón (nougat sweet) to seafarers.
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The volunteers met seafarers from India, the Philippines, Turkey and elsewhere, mentioned Ricard Rodríguez-Martos, a Catholic deacon and former service provider marine captain who leads Stella Maris on this main Mediterranean harbor. —Related Press
