Bethlehem, December 08, 2025
Bethlehem illuminated its main Christmas tree on December 6 for the first time since the Gaza war began in October 2023, signaling the return of public Christmas celebrations after a two-year hiatus amid ongoing conflict and regional instability. The event symbolizes hope and resilience for a city deeply affected by war and economic hardship.
Lighting Up a Symbol of Hope
The ceremony took place in Manger Square, just meters from the Church of the Nativity. It featured prayers for peace, musical performances, and the lighting of a large tree adorned with red and gold ornaments topped by a bright red star. This marked a significant moment as Bethlehem resumed its traditional public celebrations, canceled for 2023 and 2024 due to hostilities linked to the Gaza war.
Mayor Anton Salman emphasized the event’s message to the world, reflecting the Palestinian community’s enduring hope: “The decision we took was to reignite the spirit of Christmas and to reignite hope. I think this sends a great message to the whole world that we Palestinians love life and we are eagerly looking forward to a peaceful solution.”
Economic and Social Context
The celebrations come amid efforts to revive Bethlehem’s tourism-dependent economy, which was devastated by the war. Tourism sharply declined after Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel and Israel’s subsequent military operations. Unemployment in Bethlehem soared from 14% to 65%, forcing around 4,000 residents to leave the city seeking work elsewhere.
Despite the fragile security environment, November 2025 saw the highest tourism levels since the conflict began. Hotels anticipate around 70% occupancy during the Christmas period. However, most attendees at the tree lighting were Palestinians from the West Bank and Israel, with foreign tourism yet to fully return.
Security Concerns and Challenges
Security remains a major concern. Concurrent with the Christmas tree lighting, Israeli forces shot and killed two Palestinian men at a checkpoint in Hebron, located south of Bethlehem. Movement in the region is heavily impeded by checkpoints and military raids. Residents report long travel times for short distances; for example, a six-hour journey from Ramallah to Bethlehem for a 20-mile trip.
Israeli military activities in the West Bank continue to create an unstable environment, affecting Palestinian communities’ day-to-day life and complicating efforts to restore normalcy.
Regional Significance and Cultural Resilience
The resumption of Bethlehem’s Christmas festivities coincides with a tentative ceasefire in Gaza, fostering cautious optimism about de-escalation. For many Palestinians, the event transcends religious observance; it represents a form of cultural and political resistance that asserts the community’s desire for peace, normal life, and recognition amid ongoing conflict.
Public sentiment in Bethlehem reflects enduring hardship marked by “nothing but war and death” over the past two years. Against this bleak backdrop, the return of Christmas music and lights carries heightened emotional significance, symbolizing resilience in the face of prolonged adversity.
As Bethlehem cautiously reopens its doors to celebration and tourism, the city stands at a fragile crossroads—seeking to rebuild economically while navigating persistent security challenges. The Christmas tree lighting sends a message not only of hope but of the complex realities underlying efforts toward peace and recovery in a region long defined by conflict.