In a somber turn of events, Bethlehem, the historic birthplace of Jesus, has canceled its annual Christmas celebrations as a gesture of solidarity with the ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip. Typically, this time of year sees the city flooded with pilgrims and celebrants from all over the world. However, this year, the festivities have been significantly scaled back, with the main attraction being a nativity scene at the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church. The scene depicts an infant Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh and surrounded by rubble, symbolizing the suffering in Gaza.

The Church of the Nativity, dating back to the sixth century, has also adapted its nativity scene to reflect the current situation, including razor wire and tarp-wrapped figures. The church, which is usually bustling with visitors, now sits practically empty, with the number of daily visitors dwindling to less than 1,000 in one month.

The decision to cancel the public celebrations was made by multiple Palestinian Christian leaders who came together to express their solidarity with the war in Gaza. As a result, the usual parade of 28 Boy Scout troops accompanying the Latin Patriarch's procession will be reduced to one silent troop carrying Bible verses on peace and possibly photographs of Gazan children.

This scaled-down Christmas comes just one year after Bethlehem celebrated in full swing following two years of curtailed festivities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this year's cancellation is not solely due to the pandemic but is a response to the war between Israel and Hamas.

Christian leaders in Bethlehem have openly condemned Hamas' surprise terror attack on Israel, which took place on October 7. The attack resulted in the loss of approximately 1,200 lives and the taking of at least 240 hostages. In a letter to President Joe Biden, a group of Bethlehem clerics condemned the attacks and called for the immediate release of all civilians held hostage. However, they also emphasized that Hamas' actions did not justify what they deemed as "collective violence" against civilians in Gaza, who have been under siege from Israel's military for nearly three months.

Bethlehem Mayor Hanna Nanania used his annual Christmas speech to denounce Israel's retaliatory bombardment of Gaza as “genocide” and "ethnic cleansing." He criticized what he called the "moral failure of the West" to intervene and prevent the killing of Gazan civilians. Local business owners have also suffered, with many shops closing their doors since the October 7 massacre.

The impact of the war has also severely affected tourism in the region. Traditionally, Bethlehem is a focal point of worldwide Christmas celebrations, with vibrant decorations, Christmas trees, Santa Claus appearances, and joyful carolers. However, this year, the town is eerily quiet, and the usually bustling Church of the Nativity now sees empty pews.

Palestinian Christians, who make up the world's oldest community of believers, are feeling the weight of these challenging times. With only 2% of Palestinians in the West Bank identifying as Christians and less than 1% in Gaza, the community fears its continued existence. Mirna Alatrash, a Christian from Bethlehem, expressed her concern that the Palestinian cause has been forgotten by Christians worldwide.

Father Sandro Tomasevic, who serves at the Church of the Nativity, emphasized the Christian community's desire for peace amidst the conflict. The struggle is immense as the Christians find themselves caught in the middle and yearning for an end to the violence.

Although the usual festive activities have been scaled back significantly, traditional mass will still be held. The message of Christmas, centered on peace, love, and light, is needed now more than ever, according to Pastor Munther Isaac of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church.

As the world awaits a resolution to the conflict, the people of Bethlehem continue to hope for a brighter future and a return to the joyous celebrations that once defined their Christmas tradition.