Hundreds of Palestinians gathered around the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, preparing for a somber Christmas under the shadow of the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees reported that 14,500 Palestinian children have been killed by Israel in Gaza since last October, averaging one murder every 60 minutes.
In response to this grim scenario, local authorities in Bethlehem decided for the second consecutive year to suspend large public celebrations, with no Christmas decorations or traditional giant Christmas tree in Manger Square.
Despite the lack of festive atmosphere, the Church will still hold its traditional midnight mass with the presence of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, but the focus will be on religion rather than the usual festive spirit.