'People are not really into any celebration...': Jesus birthplace Bethlehem cancels Christmas to honour Hamas 'martyrs'

Palestinian authorities have halted the yearly Christmas show in Bethlehem “in honour of Hamas martyrs” due to the ongoing violence with Israel.

Bethlehem Municipality announced the plans to do away with the traditional Christmas tree and festive decorations in Manger Square, which has seen Christmas decorations ever since modern celebrations of the season began.

“Bethlehem Municipality crews announced the dismantling of Christmas decorations installed several years ago in the city’s neighborhoods and removing all festive appearances in honor of the martyrs and in solidarity with our people in Gaza,” the municipality wrote on Facebook.

It’s the first time festive decorations will not be seen in the spot which is said to have been where Jesus Christ was born.

“The reason is the general situation in Palestine; people are not really into any celebration, they are sad, angry and upset; our people in Gaza are being massacred and killed in cold blood,” Telegraph quoted a spokesperson for the city as saying.

“The traditional Christmas mass and prayers will still be observed, without the usual Christmas tree or festive lights ‘installed in any part of the city’, which sits just six miles south of Jerusalem,” the spokesperson added.

Bethlehem is a historical town with 25,000 people living there but it sits just six miles south of Jerusalem in the Palestinian-patrolled West Bank.

Due to the rich religious history, Christians from all around the world go on a pilgrimage to Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity to celebrate the birth of Christ.

However, since Hamas’ brutal Oct 7 massacre and the horrors of war in Gaza, the town has been empty of visitors and sat neglected in a usual bustling town.

With inputs from agencies