![Marching band performs in a parade as Christians from around the world visit the Church of the Nativity, believed to mark the birthplace of Jesus, taking part in services and prayers in Bethlehem, West Bank on December 24, 2025. [Issam Rimawi - Anadolu Agency]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/AA-20251224-40064858-40064855-CHRISTMAS_CELEBRATION_IN_BETHLEHEM-1-1.jpg)
Christmas celebrations were held in full swing in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Wednesday, for the first time since the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Anadolu reports. During the war, festivities in the city, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, were cancelled or muted in respect for the thousands of people who lost their lives in the Israeli assault. Bethlehem Mayor Hanna Hanania told Anadolu that municipal authorities launched a campaign a month ago to deliver a clear message to the world that “peace is the only path in the land of Palestine.” “This year’s celebrations carry a message of hope and resilience for our people and a message to the world that the Palestinian […]
