|
Bethlehem, which neighbors Jerusalem in the occupied West Bank,
has been battered by Israeli-Palestinian clashes of years past.
But many townspeople have been especially gripped by the current
conflict in the Gaza Strip, 50 km (30 miles) away.
Triggered by an Oct 7 killing and kidnapping spree in southern
Israel by gunmen from the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, the
war has seen much of the impoverished enclave devastated in an
Israeli counter-offensive with no end in sight.
In the early days of every December, church leaders convene in
Bethlehem to inaugurate the pre-Christmas Advent season, usually
a major tourist draw. But this year the streets and plazas of
the hilly town were largely empty and somber under a dry winter
sun.
"We have never seen Bethlehem like this, not even during the
time of COVID. The town is empty, sad," Father Ibrahim Faltas, a
senior Franciscan friar, told Reuters in front of the Church of
the Nativity. "Today was meant to be a joyous day."
Palestinians were in pain at the "many children, women, the
elderly, the people who were martyred in this crazy war", he
said. Gazan authorities put the Palestinian death toll at more
than 15,000, while Israel says it lost 1,200 people to the
initial Hamas attack and more than 70 troops to Gaza fighting.
A Nov. 10 statement by church heads in the Holy Land voiced
sympathy for people wracked by "the uncertain fate of those dear
to them" - a possible reference to families and friends of some
240 people taken hostage by Hamas and kept mostly incommunicado.
For the first time in many residents' memories, no Christmas
tree had been erected in Nativity Square, where the church
prepared to hold religious services shorn of festive events.
"We will celebrate in sobriety," said Father Francesco Patton of
the Custody of the Holy Land church group. "That means without
the fanfare and without too many lights, in the most spiritual
way and more (among) families than in the square."
(Writing by Dan Williams; editing by Giles Elgood)
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2022 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.
|
|
