BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Christmas has returned to Bethlehem after two years of silence brought by the war in Gaza, a hopeful revival in the city revered by Christians as the traditional birthplace of Jesus Christ.
On Saturday evening, families once again filled Bethlehem’s streets, now bright with red lights and festive music. It was a stark contrast to the past two Christmases when businesses stood shuttered and the city felt deserted as conflict gripped the region.
For Christians around the world, Bethlehem holds deep biblical significance. It is the place where, according to the Gospel accounts, Jesus was born in a manger after Mary and Joseph traveled there for the census. This moment, celebrated every December, lies at the heart of Christian faith and continues to draw pilgrims to the historic city.
Residents say this year’s celebrations symbolize the gradual revival of Bethlehem. While a fragile ceasefire holds in Gaza, many Palestinians see the renewed festivities as a small but meaningful step toward peace in a region long marked by tragedy.
“It’s not like it was before the war,” said 30-year-old John Juka, whose family restaurant struggled to survive during the conflict. “But it feels like life is coming back.”
Tourism and pilgrimages have long been the backbone of Bethlehem’s economy, supporting about 80 percent of the city’s predominantly Muslim population, according to local officials. A surge of visitors brings income not only to hotels and restaurants but to small shops, markets, and surrounding communities across the West Bank.
“When we have 10,000 visitors and pilgrims sleeping in Bethlehem, the butcher is working, the supermarket is working, everybody is working,” said Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati.
But the war that followed the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, devastated the city’s economy. Major Christmas events were canceled during Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which Gaza’s health ministry says killed more than 70,000 Palestinians. Israel also expanded its military operations in the West Bank, including areas near Bethlehem.
The mayor said unemployment in the city soared from 14 percent to 65 percent. Poverty deepened, and around 4,000 residents left to find work elsewhere. A recent United Nations report described the West Bank’s economic crisis as its most severe downturn on record.
Despite this, Bethlehem’s leaders pushed to revive the holiday. “Our decision was to reignite the spirit of Christmas and reignite hope,” the mayor said. “This sends a message to the world that Palestinians love life and are looking forward to a peaceful solution.”
Crowds gathered on Saturday at Manger Square, near the site where Christians believe Jesus was born. Heavily armed police stood guard as families cheered and children climbed onto their fathers’ shoulders while the towering Christmas tree lit up the square.
For families like the Jukas, the sight of visitors felt like a long-awaited breath of relief. The family opened their restaurant in 1979, serving traditional Palestinian cuisine, but the latest war pushed them to the brink of closure. When ceasefire negotiations began gaining traction in August, Juka noticed more people walking the streets and decided to reopen. “Tourists finally feel safe to come back,” he said. “We’re hopeful we might see peace in our future.”
Tourism numbers in November reached their highest since the war began, the mayor said, and hotel bookings suggest occupancy could reach 70 percent this Christmas season.
Still, residents acknowledge that celebrations remain smaller than before, and foreign tourists are far fewer. Many describe an atmosphere still weighed down by tension.
Violence and military raids continue to spread across the West Bank. On Saturday, Israel’s military said its forces shot dead two Palestinian men who allegedly tried to ram soldiers at a checkpoint in Hebron. Palestinian health authorities confirmed at least one death.
Checkpoints have made travel grueling. One resident, 29-year-old Issa Montas, said he spent six hours traveling from Ramallah, less than 20 miles away, to reach Bethlehem due to delays.
Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have also reached their highest level since the UN began monitoring such incidents in 2006. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the perpetrators “a handful of extremists,” though Palestinians say the violence has escalated beyond control.
Despite the fear and uncertainty, Montas said he still saw reasons to hope as children played among street vendors and a mix of Christmas and Arabic music filled the air.
“This celebration is not just for us,” he said. “It’s for everyone. Christians, Jews, Muslims. This Christmas is for everyone.”
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
- Paraluman P. Funtanilla
