Shafaqna English- Palestinians are hopeful that the first Christmas tree lighting ceremony in three years will encourage tourists to return to the city which has been facing a severe economic crisis.
Between Israeli genocidal war on people in Gaza and near-daily Israeli assaults on Bethlehem and other cities across the occupied West Bank, Palestinians have endured great suffering over the past two years. They have had little to celebrate, and for the past years, all public Christmas celebrations have been cancelled.
But Saturday (06 Dec 2025) brought a glimmer of hope to the crowds who gathered in Bethlehem’s Manger Square outside of the Church of the Nativity to watch the Christmas tree be lit for the first time since 2022.
Source: Aljazeera