Bethlehem cancels Christmas: See why | –

Bethlehem, usually regarded for its joyous and light-weight-filled Christmas celebrations, is having a varied methodology this 12 months.

In solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, the municipality of Bethlehem has structured an paintings known as “Nativity beneath the Rubble” in Manger Sq. wherever a adorned Christmas tree usually stands.

The celebration was inaugurated by Rula Maayah, the Palestinian Minister of Tourism, and Hana Hananiyeh, the Mayor of Bethlehem, on Saturday night.

In simply two months, as much as 20,000 Palestinians, primarily women and little ones, have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli assaults.

The center-wrenching actuality of hundreds of younger life turning into taken absent on the opposite aspect of Palestine has solid a somber hue round Bethlehem’s ordinarily jubilant environment all through this time of 12 months.

Compounding this sorrow, Israeli limits and the closure of checkpoints have additional dampened the spirits of this sacred metropolis.

These measures have designed it exceptionally onerous for vacationers and pilgrims to succeed in Bethlehem, hindering the once-a-year inflow of tourists on the lookout for to experience Christmas’s magic in its most revered location.

Christian leaders in Bethlehem have vocally condemned Hamas’ shock terror assault on Israel on Oct. 7, which killed about 1,200 folks at the moment and observed at minimal 240 some others taken hostage.

“We condemn the brutal assaults of Hamas on Oct seventh that prompted the decline of existence of just about 1,400 Israelis and residents of different nations, and we telephone for the rapid launch of all civilians held hostage,” a crew of Bethlehem clerics wrote in a letter to President Joe Biden final thirty day interval.