The Biblical city of Bethlehem, which hosts the Church of Nativity and is widely believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, stood largely deserted on Christmas Day on Monday as the festivities were cancelled owing to the ongoing war in Gaza.
Over 20,000 people have been killed in the conflict, which began with a surprise Hamas incursion on October 7 and has continued in a brutal aerial and ground campaign by Israel since, which has destroyed residential, educational, medical and administrative infrastructure in the narrow Gaza strip as it searches for Hamas command centres.
Bethlehem, which falls in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory of the West Bank, was devoid of the festivities which it has traditionally seen for the past millennia. There were few tourists or worshippers. The traditional decorations, including lights and a Christmas tree, were all missing, and the mood was sombre.
The native Christians, who refer to themselves as ethnic Palestinians, staged a rally on Christmas Eve, calling for an end to hostilities and mourning Gaza. They held up Palestinian flags as they
In a streamed sermon, the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, in the annual Christmas message, criticised those who were complicit in the ongoing campaign against Gaza.
On a live streamed worship session in the Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, Reverend Dr. Munther Isaac gave a Christmas message criticising those who are complicit in Israel's ongoing bombardment of Gaza and words of encouragement to the Palestinian people. pic.twitter.com/nzq4OlETGJ
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'Our hearts are in Bethlehem'
Hundreds of miles away in the Vatican, Pope Francis kicked off global Christmas celebrations; he noted that Gaza remains at the forefront of their thoughts.
"Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world," he told thousands of faithful gathered at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City.
He failed to call out Israel by name for its actions in his address, which was replete with mention of violence and war as he argued the futility of using force.
"Jesus does not eliminate injustice from above by a show of force, but from below, by a show of love".
Christmas Day strikes
Israel continued to strike at Gaza on Christmas day, bombing locations in Khan Younis, killing at least 18 people.
It followed Christmas Eve strikes on the Al Maghazi refugee camp in which at least 70 people were killed, the Health Ministry in Gaza said.
Israel vows to continue ground action.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the ground action until 'total victory' is achieved.
But we have no choice but to keep fighting," he said, adding that this will be a long war as the toll for Israeli soldiers killed in street battles with Hamas in Gaza mounted.
The army said Monday two more soldiers had been killed, taking to 17 the number of troops killed since Friday and 156 since Israel's ground assault began on October 27.
Netanyahu said they will push deeper into Gaza in the coming days.
Israeli military spokesperson Jonathan Conricus suggested their forces were close to gaining control in northern Gaza.
He added that they will now focus on other parts of Gaza.
"We focus our efforts against Hamas in southern Gaza".