In Bethlehem, Palestinians hope for larger Christmas crowds despite looming dangers, as war in Gaza threatens to erupt again.
Christmas Celebrations in a Warzone
Every year, Bethlehem hosts religious festivities that begin with the Patriarch of Jerusalem’s ceremonial entry into the city. At midnight, a Passover service is planned at St. Catherine’s Church, followed by a procession to a nearby basilica and a cave where Jesus is believed to have been born.
Despite these traditions, Youssef Hazboun, a native Bethlehem resident, warns that the festivities exist under the looming threat that another escalation could occur at any moment.
Tourism and Economy in Bethlehem
About eighty percent of Bethlehem’s residents earn a living from tourism. During the Gaza war, unemployment surged from 14% to 65%, leaving most of the city reliant on visitors who now hesitate to arrive because of nearby violence.
Local authorities report that hotel occupancy hovers around 70%, yet foreign guests remain scarce, and the city’s usual jubilant atmosphere is stifled.
Risk of New Escalation
Hazboun notes that Israel launches wars roughly every two to three years, keeping Palestinians on edge that another flare‑up might happen soon. He expresses a desire for hope but acknowledges that the danger of escalation remains constant.
Impact of Gaza Conflict on Western Jerusalem
The United Nations warns that the economic collapse on the West Bank is the worst in decades. New Israeli checkpoints, restrictions, and clashes have driven the Palestinian GDP back to a level seen twenty years ago.
Israeli military actions and settlements continue to target Palestinians, seizing land, killing livestock, and destroying crops, thereby severing the “Arab continuity” between Ramallah and Bethlehem.
