Wed Dec 24 18:30:00 UTC 2025: Bethlehem Celebrates Christmas as Palestinian Christians Worry About Erasure Due to Israeli Settlement Growth
Bethlehem – Thousands gathered in Manger Square in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve for the first public celebrations since 2022. The city had scaled back festivities for the past two years out of respect for the thousands killed in Israel’s war on Gaza.
Families filled the square as a giant Christmas tree returned, replacing a nativity display that symbolized the devastation in Gaza with baby Jesus amid rubble and barbed wire. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Catholic leader in the Holy Land, led the celebrations, arriving from Jerusalem in the traditional Christmas procession and calling for a “Christmas full of light.”
Scout bands marched through Bethlehem’s streets, their bagpipes draped with tartan and Palestinian flags. However, behind the festive atmosphere, concerns linger about the impact of the ongoing conflict on Bethlehem’s economy and the future of Palestinian communities.
Since the start of the war on Gaza, Israeli forces have carried out near-daily raids across the West Bank, arresting thousands of Palestinians and restricting movement between cities. Palestinians say the intensified military presence, road closures, and checkpoint delays have deterred visitors, paralyzing the tourism sector. Unemployment in Bethlehem surged during the war.
The return of Christmas celebrations occurs amid continued raids and large-scale military incursions across the occupied West Bank. Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians have also reached their highest level since 2006.
Adding to Palestinian concerns, Israel’s security cabinet has signed off on plans to formalize 19 illegal settlements across the West Bank, a move condemned by several countries, including the UK, Canada, and Germany. They call it a violation of international law that risks instability.
First Piper 