The war waged by Israel on the Gaza Strip for the third month in a row cast a shadow over the atmosphere of Christmas celebrations in the city of Bethlehem in the West Bank. It was decided not to light the Christmas tree in the courtyard of the Church of the Nativity as usual, and to replace that with a model of the extent of the destruction that befell the Strip.
The model, created by the Palestinian artist Tariq Selaa, represents the nativity scene in the middle of what appeared to be a destroyed house. It was called “Nativity Under the Ruins” in a symbolic reference to the devastation that the Gaza Strip is witnessing as a result of the continuous Israeli bombing, in addition to statues of a Palestinian family during the Nakba.
Candles were lit and prayers were held in the courtyard of the Church of the Nativity, in the presence of a number of clergy, officials, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Palestinian Authority, and citizens.
Hanna Hanania, Mayor of Bethlehem, said during the opening ceremony of the artwork, “Here Gaza is present. The cave is not ordinary. It was destroyed by bombing. Between its walls, the Holy Family is housed through its shape, which resembles the map of Gaza, and the children who rose as martyrs are like angels looking down from heaven.”
An exceptional year
He added, “The light in the cave here is very dim because of the bombing and death, and in the middle the Virgin Mary embraces the child Jesus, declaring the new life for all of humanity.”
He continued, saying, “Everything is exceptional this year, as Christmas comes under very difficult circumstances, in which thousands have been killed and wounded, and citizens have been displaced in Gaza.”
He added, “Bethlehem, for the first time, the Christmas tree will not be lit, and the streets of Bethlehem will not be lit, and the holiday will be limited to religious rituals only. It is a moral and national commitment. The failure of blood eliminates any possibility of joy.”
Residents of the city of Bethlehem used to begin Christmas celebrations by lighting a tree that was placed in the church square, 8 meters high and decorated with lights.
Rula Maayah, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said in her speech at the lighting ceremony of the cave, “The world is celebrating Christmas, and the city of Christmas is sad, depressing, and in pain. Its children, youth, women, and men are filled with fear, sadness, and pain from what is happening, and they do not know where things will end.”
Bethlehem without visitors
She said, “The city of the Nativity, like the rest of the Palestinian cities, is completely besieged. It is closed and sad. No one can reach it or leave it. Its people and its people are without work and without hope, as a result of the disruption and cessation of the tourism movement coming to it, which constitutes the backbone of its economy.”
The leader of the Transanta Scouts Group, the group organizing the celebration of religious rituals at Christmas, George Kanawati, said that 4 groups will participate and advance the entry of the Patriarch’s procession, with a number of 200 Scouts.
George added that the Scouts members will raise the Palestinian flag and carry banners with phrases written in different languages denouncing the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Celebrations for Christian sects that follow the Western calendar will be held on December 25, while sects that follow the Eastern calendar will celebrate on January 7.
Since last October 7, the Israeli army has been waging a devastating war on Gaza, which as of Saturday evening has left more than 20,000 martyrs, more than 53,000 wounded, most of them children and women, massive destruction of infrastructure, and an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, according to the Gaza Strip authorities and the United Nations. United.
