A Symbol of Hope in a Time of Anguish
For the first time since the outbreak of the Gaza war, the West Bank city of Bethlehem has illuminated its giant Christmas tree. The ceremony on Saturday 06 December 2025 saw a 20-metre fir, decorated with red and gold baubles, light up the edge of Manger Square, a sight last witnessed in Christmas 2022.
The Palestinian city, revered globally as the birthplace of Jesus, had suspended public Christmas festivities for the past two years as conflict raged in Gaza. The lighting event coincided with a precarious ceasefire in Gaza entering its second month, offering a fragile moment for celebration.
A Bittersweet Celebration in Manger Square
Thousands of Palestinians from across the West Bank and Israel gathered in the square, erupting in cheers as the tree's lights were switched on shortly before 8pm. "We came to celebrate, watch and enjoy, because for several years we haven't had the chance," said Randa Bsoul, a 67-year-old Palestinian from Haifa in Israel.
However, the joy was tempered by profound grief and solidarity with Gaza. Bethlehem mayor Maher Canawati told reporters, "The wound of Gaza is our wound, the people of Gaza are our people, and the light of Christmas has no meaning unless it first touches the hearts of the afflicted."
The war, which began in October 2023 after Hamas's attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people, has devastated Gaza. The reported Palestinian death toll has climbed above 70,000. Although Gaza is some 60km from Bethlehem, the war's impact has been deeply felt in the Israeli-occupied West Bank through family ties and a crippled tourism economy.
Economic Strife and a Longing for Peace
A Bethlehem souvenir shopkeeper, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, described the past two years as "like hell". They cited a worsening economic situation and tightening Israeli restrictions, including new military checkpoints and roadblocks that have sealed off some communities.
Despite the challenges, the ceremony was an act of resilience. "We are looking for hope," said Diana Babush, a Palestinian in her fifties from Bethlehem. "We are looking that, from this moment, peace will prevail."
In a solemn departure from pre-war celebrations, there were no fireworks following the tree lighting, reflecting the pervasive uncertainty. The truce between Israel and Hamas, agreed in October as part of a US plan, remains formally in place but is marred by repeated accusations of violations from both sides.
As the tree shines over Manger Square, it serves as a poignant beacon for a population yearning for an end to what many describe as two years of agony and pain, and a future where light truly signifies peace.
