At the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, the ancient hymn "Laylat al Milad" rose gently through the stone arches of Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, the very place where Christians believe Jesus was born. The melody, familiar to generations, carried a weightier resonance this year—a resonance shaped by the echoes of war and a fragile ceasefire in nearby Gaza. As the world watched, Bethlehem’s Christmas celebrations returned with a sense of hope not seen in two somber years, a hope that chorus conductor Joseph Hazboun described as a reminder “that hope is always alive,” according to The Associated Press.
The return of festivities in Bethlehem was not just a local affair; it was a symbol radiating across the Holy Land, especially for those in Gaza and the West Bank, where the scars of conflict remain fresh. This December, Caritas Jerusalem, a Catholic humanitarian organization, launched its "Christmas of Hope" campaign, aiming to restore joy, dignity, and spiritual renewal to communities battered by two years of violence. As reported by OSV News, the campaign included Christmas celebrations, tree lightings, and the distribution of material support to Christians facing hardship in Gaza and the West Bank. Anton Asfar, secretary general of Caritas Jerusalem, explained, “We want to replant hope within the Christian community over here in the Holy Land.”
The campaign’s reach was broad and ambitious. Supported by Caritas branches in Italy and Sweden, the initiatives spanned Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Zababdeh, and—remarkably—even Gaza, where the situation remains precarious. “We’re doing it in Bethlehem. We’re doing it in Jerusalem, we’re doing it in Zababdeh, and even in Gaza,” Asfar told OSV News. The effort was, in part, a response to the deep need for spiritual and emotional renewal after a period marked by destruction and hopelessness.
Pope Leo XIV, too, underscored the enduring power of hope. Meeting with those who donated the Vatican’s Christmas tree and Nativity scene on December 16, 2025, the pontiff remarked that the Christmas tree “is a sign of life and evokes the hope that never fails, even in the cold of winter.” His words echoed across continents to the hearts of those in the Holy Land, where the cold of winter is matched by the chill of uncertainty and loss.
That uncertainty is never far from the surface. While a ceasefire brokered in October 2025 technically remains in place, the peace is tenuous at best. Asfar described the agreement as “fragile,” a sentiment echoed by ongoing violence: Israel has continued targeted attacks in Gaza, including the recent killing of a Hamas senior commander. According to Al-Jazeera, since the ceasefire began on October 10, Israel has carried out at least 800 attacks and killed 400 people. The United Nations has reported that, despite increased humanitarian aid, severe shortages persist—clean water, medical care, shelter, and key protein sources are all in short supply. Tragically, Ramiz Alakbarov, the United Nations’ Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, confirmed the first hypothermia-related death of a two-week-old newborn boy from Khan Younis in December, underscoring the dire conditions facing Gaza’s most vulnerable.
The humanitarian challenges are compounded by ongoing military presence and restrictions. Asfar recounted that Israeli tanks could be seen near the Holy Family Parish compound in Gaza and that “every day, between 3:00 and 6:00 in the morning,” locals hear “the bombardments and shelling.” Even within the supposed safety of the parish, shrapnel has landed in the compound. “Nobody talks about this now. Yes, the situation (has) improved, but it’s a ‘war after war’ situation,” he said. The so-called “Yellow Line,” a boundary enforced by Israeli forces, further complicates movement. “Anyone who approaches this ‘Yellow Line’ will be shot at because they are seen as a threat. So if you mistakenly commute over there or walk over there, maybe you will be shot. It’s not easy. That’s why we are very careful about how our teams are moving within Gaza,” Asfar explained.
Amid these conditions, many Christians and Caritas staff have fled Gaza, seeking safety elsewhere. Those who remain, however, are determined to “replant hope within this community” during the Christmas season. But even simple gestures of kindness are stymied by restrictions. “We want to make the wonderful children in Gaza smile, but we can’t do so if we are not allowed to bring toys into Gaza. We are not allowed to bring books or paintings or even pencils and drawing, supplies, or stationery into Gaza,” Asfar lamented.
Despite these challenges, the spiritual resilience of Gaza’s Christians endures. “Christians in Gaza have never stopped praying and celebrating Mass,” Asfar observed. Yet, with the ceasefire in place, many are only now beginning to process the trauma they have endured. “People now, after the ceasefire, are starting to understand what has happened to them and are starting to process what happened, so it’s not an easy situation,” Asfar told OSV News. The toll is both psychological and physical, with 560 individuals currently sheltering in the Latin and Orthodox compounds, having lost their homes to the violence.
Pope Leo XIV’s understanding and support have not gone unnoticed. Asfar expressed appreciation for the Holy Father, noting, “The Holy Father understands well the situation as it is conveyed by our cardinal over here to him, and also he communicates, not so often, but with the Holy Family parish priest (Father Gabriel Romanelli) to get firsthand information on what’s happening on the ground.” The solidarity and prayers of Catholics worldwide have also provided comfort. “We feel very weak” without that support, Asfar admitted, but he remains hopeful that it will continue as Caritas Jerusalem prepares to launch a new appeal in the coming year, aiming to establish mobile clinics and provide prosthetics for those who have lost limbs during the war.
Back in Bethlehem, the Christmas spirit was palpable. After two years of subdued celebrations, the city’s return to festivity was, in itself, an act of faith and defiance against despair. According to The Associated Press, the midnight hymn in the Church of the Nativity signified more than tradition—it was a testament to the enduring hope of a people who, despite everything, refuse to let darkness have the final word.
This Christmas in the Holy Land, hope is not a distant promise but a fragile, hard-won reality—nurtured by faith, solidarity, and the tireless efforts of those determined to keep its flame alive.
