Bethlehem marks Christmas amid ongoing West Bank struggles

Christmas returned to Bethlehem after a two-year pause, but Palestinians in the West Bank still endure hardships under Israeli occupation. Morning mass occurred at the Church of the Nativity, a day after crowds returned to Manger Square for celebrations. Attendance remained limited due to Israeli military checkpoints blocking many roads, Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti said.

Barghouti explained that the West Bank is under siege, preventing many Palestinians from traveling because of restrictions and high costs. Meanwhile, Gaza’s war coincided with increased Israeli military operations in the West Bank, including home demolitions and settlement expansions. Palestinian leadership faced corruption allegations and slow decision-making amid rising unrest and displacements.

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Festivities return to Bethlehem, but checkpoints, demolitions, and displacement continue to overshadow Palestinian lives in the West Bank.

In 2025, UN OCHA reported over 30,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced in the West Bank, marking the largest displacement crisis since 1967. The West Bank, home to over 3.3 million Palestinians, remains under Israeli military control. Record demolitions occurred this year, often justified by authorities citing building permit disputes, affecting thousands of families.

Human rights groups, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, called the demolitions deliberate and aimed to dispossess Palestinians. Angelita Caredda said Israel systematically strips families of homes, water, and livelihoods to expand settlements. Despite Bethlehem’s festive celebrations, the ongoing violence and displacement continue to overshadow Palestinian life across the West Bank.

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