After two years of more quiet celebrations due to the war in Gaza, the historic city of Bethlehem is once again preparing for a joyful and festive Christmas in the birthplace of Jesus.
In the city in the West Bank, the streets will this year once again be decorated and the Christmas tree in front of the Church of the Nativity illuminated.
Known as the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem is a focal point for millions of Christians around the world with many tourists visiting especially during Christmas. But for the past two years, Christmas was only marked by religious rituals and with no festivities.
"We hope and invite all people to come to the city of peace during Christmas, and we invite them to be with us to celebrate peace and hope, which should come out from the city of peace to the whole world' said Bethlehem mayor Maher Nicola Canawati.
Israel's campaign in Gaza, which Palestinian health authorities say has killed around 68,000 people resulted in plummeted tourist numbers in Bethlehem during Christmas season leaving businesses struggling to stay open.
Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity, believed by Christians to stand on the site where Jesus was born, were largely deserted and nearby souvenir shops were closed.
However, a Palestinian official from the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism told Reuters that this season is expected to be better.
Tourists were seen walking through the streets of Bethlehem, exploring historic sites and attending church services.
“I wish I would have brought my wife and kids. I feel safe and I think they would feel safe here and I encourage them. Next time I plan on bringing them when I come here," said Glen, a tourist in Bethlehem.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can sh...
Football superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in India to kick off his highly anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025, a three-day, four-city visit running fro...
The upcoming meeting in Berlin between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European officials is set to focus on ...
A flash of light followed by the sound of an explosion was observed over Gaza early on Saturday, according to witnesses, as severe winter storms worse...
Hundreds of people gathered for a second consecutive week at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, on Friday (12 December), to support the family of Master Sg...
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Football superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in India to kick off his highly anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025, a three-day, four-city visit running from 13 to 15 December.
The upcoming meeting in Berlin between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European officials is set to focus on advancing a proposed peace framework, though analysts warn reaching a deal may be difficult.
A flash of light followed by the sound of an explosion was observed over Gaza early on Saturday, according to witnesses, as severe winter storms worsened an already dire humanitarian crisis in the territory.
Japan has lifted a tsunami advisory issued after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the country's northeastern region on Friday (12 December), the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said. The JMA had earlier put the earthquake's preliminary magnitude at 6.7.
The United States issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela on Thursday, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.
The resignation of Bulgaria's government on Thursday (11 December) puts an end to an increasingly unpopular coalition but is likely to usher in a period of prolonged political instability on the eve of the Black Sea nation's entry into the euro zone.
An extratropical cyclone has caused widespread disruption across Brazil’s São Paulo state, with powerful winds toppling trees and power lines, blocking streets and leaving large parts of the region without electricity.
Pakistan has indicated its openness to forming a regional bloc with Bangladesh without including India. The statement from Islamabad follows comments by Bangladesh’s top foreign affairs adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, that such an arrangement is strategically possible without India.
The Oligarch’s Design is an investigative documentary exploring how financial power, political influence and carefully constructed narratives can shape conflict and public perception.
Football superstar Lionel Messi has arrived in India to kick off his highly anticipated GOAT India Tour 2025, a three-day, four-city visit running from 13 to 15 December.
The upcoming meeting in Berlin between U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and European officials is set to focus on advancing a proposed peace framework, though analysts warn reaching a deal may be difficult.
Britain’s King Charles III said on Friday, 12 December, that his cancer treatment is expected to be reduced in the coming year, using a televised address to urge people across the country to take part in cancer screening programmes, officials confirmed.
Talks aimed at ending the war between Ukraine and Russia are set to continue in Berlin this weekend, with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff due to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and senior European leaders, a U.S. official said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment