Churches across Palestine announced the cancellation of all Christmas festivities in an expression of unity with Gaza — limiting activities to services and prayers, Al Jazeera reports.

All of this has affected Christmas tourism, which was revived only last year following a two-year hiatus due to health and travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. Bethlehem usually receives up to 1.5 million tourists every year, according to the Palestinian Ministry for Tourism and Culture.

Rula Maayah, the Palestinian minister for tourism, said that the tourism sector has incurred significant losses as a result of the Israeli assault on Gaza. At a time when the world is celebrating Christmas, Bethlehem is “sad, silent, in pain, and completely besieged”, Maayah said.

“No one can reach it or leave it, its people are without work and without hope as a result of the disruption in tourism,” which is the backbone of its economy, she added.

Even the heads of religious establishments in Bethlehem speak of the importance of cancelling celebrations this year.

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