In Photos | Bethlehem marks a second subdued Christmas eve during the war in Gaza

Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, observed a subdued Christmas Eve under the shadow of the ongoing Gaza conflict, with missing festive lights, trees, and tourists in Manger Square. (AP Photo)

Christians remain a minority in the Holy Land, with 182,000 in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and 1,300 in Gaza, per US State Department data.(AP Photo)

Tourism, which constitutes 70% of Bethlehem’s economy, suffered severely due to the lack of visitors, pushing unemployment in the town to around 50%. (AP Photo)

Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa led a special Mass in Gaza, expressing hope for a brighter future, while displaced Christians wished for peace and a return to normalcy.(AP Photo)

Visitor numbers to Bethlehem have plummeted from 2 million in 2019 to fewer than 100,000 in 2024, according to the Palestinian Tourism Ministry. (AP Photo)

Checkpoints and restrictions have hindered access to and from Bethlehem, cutting off workers and exacerbating economic decline, following the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. (AP Photo)

The ongoing Gaza war and West Bank violence, with over 800 Palestinians and dozens of Israelis killed, have disrupted movement and contributed to economic and social challenges. (AP Photo)