Israel-Hamas war means quieter Christmas observances for Orthodox Christians wqcs.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wqcs.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Israel-Hamas war means quieter Christmas observances for Orthodox Christians wfae.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wfae.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Normally at this time of year, Bethlehem is full of thousands visiting one of Christianity’s most holy cities. But Bel Trew finds empty streets, shuttered shops and a central square without its famous Christmas tree. Church leaders say the situation in Gaza makes any form of celebration impossible – and they need people to be united in a message of peace
Since the Palestinian Authority took control of Bethlehem in 1995, the Christian population has massively declined. Today, only around 10,000 Christians live in the city of about 75,500 residents.
One of the world's oldest churches is now a casualty of one of the longest running conflicts, as the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem cancels Christmas events.
Biblical Bethlehem has struggled since the start of the coronavirus pandemic almost two years ago. Christmas is normally peak season for tourism in Jesus’ traditional birthplace, located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.