Israel-Hamas war overshadows Bethlehem Christmas
Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, is famous for being the biblical birthplace of Jesus. But this year, because of the war in Gaza, most festivities have been canceled. It's also much harder to reach the popular pilgrimage site.
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00:00 The chants of the Greek Orthodox clergy fill the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem during
00:07 the afternoon service.
00:10 At this time of the year, the church should be packed with local and foreign visitors.
00:15 But today it is largely empty.
00:22 Parish priest Father Issa, who was born in Bethlehem, says he has never seen anything
00:27 like it.
00:30 People are grieving and sad for what's happening in Gaza.
00:33 This is the first time that I see Bethlehem and especially the Nativity Church, the place
00:38 where Jesus was born, empty like this.
00:41 It's actually, during COVID-19 it was not like this because still locals can come and
00:46 visit and stay here for days and celebrate with us Christmas.
00:53 Usually people from all over the world stand in line to visit the sacred spot in the grotto
00:59 where it is believed that Jesus was born.
01:05 And just outside the church on Menger Square, the usual decorations, lights and music are
01:11 also absent.
01:13 There is no festive atmosphere, there are no people.
01:18 No one feels like celebrating because of the war and what's happening to people in Gaza.
01:23 We always pray for peace from Jesus' birthplace.
01:28 Many in the city had high hopes for the Christmas season.
01:32 The impact has been hard as felt by the businesses that depend on tourism, like here in this
01:38 shop selling religious ornaments.
01:41 This store we have almost 25 families working with us, all the carving, olive wood carvings.
01:46 They are living, they are depending on pilgrims, not just me, my brother, my father.
01:51 Back at the church compound, Fr.
01:53 Rami, the Roman Catholic parish priest, prepares for Christmas despite the empty aisles.
02:00 We need Christmas, we need celebrating Christmas.
02:03 Inside the churches we need Christmas, we need to continue to ask God to give us peace
02:08 and to give us his happiness in our heart so we can resist this hard situation.
02:20 A message which is more important than ever.
02:23 [MUSIC]