Bethlehem Celebrates Christmas with Sadness and Sorrow

Bethlehem celebrated Christmas last night with deep sadness and sorrow amid the ongoing war in Gaza, as Israel intensified its military operations in the central and southern Gaza Strip. The festive atmosphere was absent from the Church of the Nativity, replaced instead by prayers and appeals for peace following more than two months of the bloodiest war in the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The Bethlehem municipality canceled the celebrations due to the war in Gaza, and the Christmas tree and joyful displays were missing from a city that typically attracted thousands during the holiday season. In Gaza, Hamas reported 50 airstrikes targeting central areas early on Monday, including the Al-Nusairat refugee camp.