Bethlehem Cancels Christmas Celebration

In Bethlehem, the city where Jesus was born, there will be no public Christmas celebrations this year due to the devastating war in Gaza.

Palestinian leaders of Christian denominations made a unanimous decision to cancel public celebrations, citing the ongoing conflict.

The streets of Bethlehem are dark and hushed, with no Christmas tree or sparkling lights in Manger Square or along the cobble-stone streets that should be bustling with foreign tourists this time of year.

There will be no Christmas parade with musicians weaving through the old city’s labyrinth walkways, no Santas on street corners doling out joy to children.

Instead, the main square is a simple parking lot, without a hint of holiday decoration to be seen.

Despite the lack of extraneous decorations and Western traditions, local Christian leaders said that it will still be a holy night.