Christmas Celebrations Return To Bethlehem After Gaza War
- Tourism and local businesses revive as festive spirit returns
- Ceasefire in Gaza brings cautious optimism for holiday season
Hyderabad: Christmas celebrations have returned to Bethlehem after two years of disruption caused by the war in Gaza. Local businesses and families are slowly welcoming tourists and pilgrims, restoring a vital economic lifeline for the city, officials said.
“It’s not like it was before the war,” said 30-year-old John Juka, whose family restaurant reopened Saturday evening. “But it’s like life is coming back again.” Bethlehem, a Muslim-majority city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, thrives on Christmas tourism. Around 80 percent of residents depend on tourism and religious pilgrims, according to the local government.
Economic revival through tourism and local trade
Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati highlighted the economic ripple effect of tourism. “When we have 10,000 visitors and pilgrims sleeping in Bethlehem, that means the butcher is working, the supermarket is working and everybody is working,” he said. The city suffered devastating losses after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza. Unemployment surged from 14 percent to 65 percent, poverty soared, and roughly 4,000 residents left the city for work.
The United Nations recently reported that the West Bank is experiencing its most severe economic downturn on record due to ongoing military operations. The revival of Christmas celebrations marks a tentative return of normalcy and economic activity, the mayor said. “The decision we took was to reignite the spirit of Christmas and to reignite hope,” he added.
Festivities return with cautious optimism
On Saturday, families gathered near Manger Square, cheering after prayers for peace, while a towering Christmas tree lit up the historic site believed to be the birthplace of Jesus. Though tourist numbers remain lower than pre-war levels, hotel occupancy is projected at around 70 percent during Christmas. Local businesses, including Juka’s restaurant, are hopeful for continued recovery. “Tourists finally feel safe to come back,” he said. Residents described this year’s Christmas as inclusive, celebrating with Christians, Muslims, and Jews together.
The cautious optimism in Bethlehem reflects a community determined to restore both economic stability and the festive spirit after years of conflict.
Now you can get the latest stories from Indtoday on Telegram every day. Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Indtoday’s Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram. For all the latest Hyderabad News updates
More Stories……
Committee Headed By Retired Judge To Take Up Reorganisation Of Districts In Telangana; Report In Six Months
Hyderabad, Jan 13 (Maxim News): Chief Minister Revanth Reddy made a key announcement. He revealed that a committee will be formed with retired judges and retired officers on the reorganization of districts. He said that a report will be submitted on this within at least six months.
