With a ceasefire and peace negotiations in Gaza, the leadership of Jesus' birthplace has taken up the celebration again.
"It has been two terrible years of silence: no Christmas, no jobs, no work," Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati told the BBC .
We all live here on tourism and tourism was down to zero.
A magnificent Christmas tree, decorated with red and gold baubles, now stands in Krubbans torg. Colorful lighting also lines the surrounding streets and signs hint at upcoming Christmas markets.
At the same time, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues. From that perspective, the resumed celebration is not without problems, Maher Canawati points out.
But deep down in my heart I felt this was the right thing to do. Christmas should never be stopped or canceled. This is a beacon of hope for us.
The last time Christmas was celebrated publicly in Bethlehem was in 2022, after a two-year hiatus during the pandemic.
