The Bethlehem Municipality announced that Christmas celebrations this year will be limited to prayers and religious rituals, in solidarity with the Gaza Strip and in rejection of the genocide to which Palestinians are subjected by the Israeli occupation.
The Bethlehem Governorate said that canceling the celebrations is an affirmation of the rejection of injustice in Gaza and all of Palestine, and the genocide to which the residents of the Gaza Strip are subjected.
Bethlehem Mayor Antoun Salman said, “The municipality decided to limit Christmas celebrations this year to prayers and religious rituals, in confirmation of our rejection of the (Israeli) injustice inflicted on Gaza and all of Palestine.”
He strongly condemned “the continuation of the aggression against Gaza,” criticizing “the international community’s silence in the face of the Israeli massacres.”
Restrictions
Salman called for “serious and immediate intervention to put an end to Israeli violations,” noting that the city of Bethlehem suffers from strict Israeli restrictions and measures that have led to its isolation from its Palestinian surroundings since October 7, 2023.
He explained, “Since the beginning of the Gaza aggression, the city has witnessed a cessation of tourism and the closing of its doors to pilgrims. Resources dried up, occupation checkpoints spread at its entrances, and restrictions on movement to and from it were tightened.”
The mayor added that the restrictions exacerbated the economic crisis and the suffering of citizens, increasing their feelings of isolation.
Christmas celebrations for Christian denominations that follow the Western calendar culminate in midnight mass from December 24 to 25 in the Church of the Nativity, while Eastern denominations celebrate on January 7.
On this occasion, prayers are held in the Church of the Nativity, which Christians believe was built above the cave in which the Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, was born.
