Thousands of Palestinian Christians and Muslims have gathered in Bethlehem's Manger Square, in front of the Church of the Nativity for the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, the first one in three years. There were hymns and prayers for peace in the two hour ceremony.

Bethlehem, and the entire West Bank has suffered a severe economic crisis in recent years, namely the lack of tourists and pilgrims during the Covid pandemic and then the severe restrictions imposed by Israel more recently, forced many established shops and hotels to close.

The city is hoping that the return of the Christmas lights will signal to the world that Bethlehem is once again open for business.

Christmas cheer returns to Bethlehem after a two-year pause caused by the war in Gaza

Christmas cheer returns to Bethlehem after a two-year pause caused by the war. A decision has been made to resume Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem after a two-year pause caused by ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The city’s festive celebrations have been confirmed by Mayor Maher Canawati in an interview for Premier Christian News with Paul Calvert, a Christian journalist in Bethlehem.

The mayor said the city is ready and excited: “Oh, definitely… not only Bethlehemites, but everyone in Palestine, including the people of Gaza.”

Festivities have started with a Christmas tree lighting in Manger Square, the heart of Bethlehem and home to the Church of the Nativity, built over the grotto traditionally identified as the birthplace of Jesus.

The tree, donated two years ago, is larger than previous years and symbolizes hope and peace after the conflict.

Mayor Canawati revealed that the celebrations would feature daily events, including carols in multiple languages, a Christmas bazaar, and live-streamed productions.

He said the city’s program would “reignite the spirit of Christmas and ignite hope… sending this message from Bethlehem to every other Palestinian city… and then to the whole world.”

The mayor described the celebrations as fully inclusive, noting both Muslims and Christians participate, and emphasized the spiritual and historical message: “We are preparing a biblical production from all denominations… comparing what happened in Gaza today with what happened 2,000 years ago under Herod.”

Canawati’s prayer for Bethlehem this year is justice and lasting peace: “Without justice, there will be no peace… Bethlehem is not only for Palestinians, but also for every Christian in this world, because it is called the Christian capital of the world.”

Thousands of pilgrims and tourists are expected to return, as Bethlehem promotes safety and open arms following a temporary peace agreement.