Church leaders in Bethlehem cancel Christmas celebrations

Church leaders in Bethlehem have called for the cancelation of Christmas festivities and celebrations as the war in Gaza continues and the humanitarian crisis worsens.

Archbishop Atallah Hanna in Jerusalem, Rev. Drs. Mitri Raheb and Munther Issac of Bethlehem are three Christian leaders who made calls for subdued celebrations while pressing world leaders to facilitate a ceasefire.

“I want to remind the world, and especially Christians and Christian churches, that Palestine is the land of [Christ’s] birth, and Bethlehem is the city of that birth .... I say to all Christians and to all the world, that celebrate this holiday, when you eat and drink, remember that some people are hungry, they can’t find food or water in Gaza. When you celebrate, remember that some people have been deprived of their freedom and deprived of celebrating the holiday, and of joy and happiness.”

The move implemented in the Holy Land comes as the Gaza health ministry reports 20,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, more than 8,000 of them children since Oct. 7.

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