Bethlehem rejoices in first festive Christmas in two years amid Gaza war's shadow

Bethlehem celebrated its first festive Christmas in over two years on Wednesday, emerging from the somber atmosphere cast by the Gaza war.

Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem had been subdued for the past two Christmases due to the conflict in Gaza that began in October 2023.

Hundreds of worshippers gathered for mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem Wednesday night.

Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, blessed the crowd and urged peace, hope, and rebirth in his homily.

He stated that the Nativity story still held relevance in the turbulence of modern times and invited people to look beyond the logic of domination to rediscover the power of love, solidarity, and justice.

Meanwhile, a fragile truce held in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands remain displaced and facing harsh winter conditions.