As the world turns its gaze toward the Holy Land this December, the spirit of Christmas has returned to cities like Bethlehem, Nazareth, and even the battered Gaza Strip, following a fragile ceasefire that began in October 2025. For the first time in two years, the familiar sounds of carols, the glow of festive lights, and the hopeful bustle of holiday markets are once again filling the air, bringing a sense of renewal and cautious optimism to communities long shadowed by conflict.
In Bethlehem, the traditional midnight hymn "The Night of Christmas" will echo through the ancient stone walls of the Church of the Nativity—revered as the birthplace of Jesus—on Christmas Eve. According to the Associated Press, the words of the hymn, “On the night of Christmas, war is buried, On the night of Christmas, love is born,” hold a deeper resonance this year. Joseph Hazboun, conductor of the local Catholic lay choir, remarked, "It reminds us that no matter the difficulties, the darkness, there is always a light and that hope is always alive." After two years of subdued celebrations, Bethlehem’s Manger Square is once more alive with music, markets, and laughter. Zoya Thalgia, a local resident, described the joyful scene: “Everyone’s happy, everyone’s coming out to celebrate, no matter religion, no matter their stance, everyone is here.”
The return of festivities is more than symbolic; it’s a lifeline for Bethlehem’s economy, which relies heavily on religious tourism. Local government figures, cited by the Associated Press, estimate that around 80% of Bethlehem’s residents depend on tourism-related businesses. During the Gaza war, the city’s unemployment rate spiked from 14% to a staggering 65%, according to Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati. In previous years, churches made somber statements by depicting Nativity scenes surrounded by rubble and barbed wire—a stark protest and a reminder of the hardships faced by the community.
Still, the scars of conflict remain. Although the ceasefire has allowed for the return of Christmas festivities, tensions continue across the West Bank. Israeli military raids and violence, including attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, have reached record highs, the United Nations reports. The economic impact lingers as well, with about 4,000 people having left Bethlehem in search of work since the conflict escalated, the mayor told the press. Christians now account for less than 2% of the West Bank’s approximately 3 million residents—a presence that continues to shrink as families seek stability abroad.
Yet, the lighting of the community Christmas tree in Manger Square earlier this month, the first in two years, has injected a much-needed dose of hope, especially for local children. “We continue to pray for peace. This is the land of peace, it’s the land where the Prince of Peace was born, and we continue to pray and hope that one day we all will enjoy peace,” Hazboun told the Associated Press. The return of Christmas markets and concerts in Ramallah and elsewhere across the West Bank has offered a brief reprieve from the images of devastation still coming from Gaza.
In Nazareth, Israel’s largest Arab city and the traditional home of Jesus’ childhood, the mood is similarly buoyant. Yasmeen Mazzawi, an Arab Christian and volunteer paramedic, described to Baptist Press how the city has come alive with public celebrations for the first time since the start of the Israel-Hamas War. “It’s going to be a very big show in Nazareth. Every day we have events and celebrations. And I used to say in previous interviews that I have hope that things will get better and I can see the light at the end of the road,” she said. “And now I can live this, and I can feel it, and people are very happy. The atmosphere is much more positive than it was.”
The city’s Christmas tree was raised at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, and a public hymn sing was scheduled for December 11, with the tree lighting on December 14. Mazzawi noted, “What we see today in Nazareth, we haven’t seen it for a while. Two years ago, last year as well, we couldn’t celebrate.” The celebrations have drawn not just Christians, but Arabs, Jews, and Muslims from across Israel, all coming together to share in the season. “I think whoever comes and visits the Christmas markets in Nazareth can feel this love and hope and the values that we as Christians share, definitely through performances, hymns and the decorations,” she said. “These beautiful events and performances … really share the message of our religion and of our beliefs. And I think that this is the beauty of the whole celebration.”
But not all Christians in the region are able to celebrate so openly. In Gaza, where about 1,000 of the 2.2 million residents are Christians—most of them Orthodox—Christmas will be marked by resilience and quiet faith. Most Gazan Christians remain sheltered within the remnants of local Latin and Greek Orthodox church campuses, while some families continue to live in the heavily damaged Gaza Baptist Church. According to Palestinian Pastor Hannah Massad, quoted by Baptist Press, “Christmas celebrations will largely take place inside the church walls. The Latin Church will celebrate on Dec. 25, as in Western traditions, while the Greek Orthodox community will celebrate on Jan. 7. In both cases, the community will gather to pray, worship and support one another, finding hope and comfort in the meaning of the holiday despite challenging circumstances.”
About 70% of homes and apartments in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, leaving families to seek shelter wherever possible. The Gaza Baptist Church, which had about 50 active members before the war, now serves as a makeshift sanctuary for around 45 people, with some even setting up tents on the church property. Despite the devastation, the church continues to worship online, connecting local Christians with others around the globe. Massad’s Christian Mission to Gaza has provided a vital lifeline, distributing stipends to 210 Christian families, $40 clothing vouchers to 500 Christians, and planning to give out 1,300 Christmas gifts—including Christian materials—to children across Gaza, the West Bank, and even to Iraqi and Syrian refugees in Jordan. “These presents are one way the community can celebrate Christmas in Gaza and bring joy to children during a difficult time,” Massad explained. “Even amid destruction and uncertainty, the spirit of Christmas endures, offering hope and encouragement to Gaza’s Christian community.”
On December 19, Jerusalem’s Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, made a pastoral visit to Gaza’s Holy Family Parish, the only Roman Catholic church in the territory. According to Naharnet and the Latin Patriarchate, his visit reaffirmed the enduring bond between the parish and the wider Diocese of Jerusalem. Pizzaballa planned to preside over Christmas Mass at the parish on December 21 and to review ongoing humanitarian and rehabilitation efforts. His previous trip in July 2025 had brought 500 tons of food to Gaza residents, and his presence this Christmas is a powerful sign of solidarity for the beleaguered Christian community. The Latin Patriarchate estimates there are 135 Catholics in Gaza, many of whom sought shelter in the church compound at the war’s outset, joined by members of the Greek Orthodox community.
While the United Nations recently declared that the famine in Gaza is over, thanks to improved access for humanitarian aid, it warns that the food situation remains "critical." The ceasefire that has allowed for these fragile celebrations is still punctuated by sporadic violence and accusations of violations by both Hamas and Israel. Yet, amid the uncertainty, voices like Mazzawi’s ring clear: “We go to the church and we pray. We pray for everyone to stay safe and people all over the world. We pray for the war to end. And we really hope that the war ends and people stay safe. I can only say that there is hope. And that’s what I believe.”
This Christmas, as hymns fill the air and lights brighten the night, the faithful across the Holy Land are clinging to hope—a hope that, even after years of darkness, peace and joy might yet be reborn.
