On Christmas Eve, Bethlehem resembles a ghost town. Celebrations are halted due to Israel-Hamas war

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — The normally bustling biblical birthplace of Jesus resembled a ghost town on Sunday, as Christmas Eve celebrations in Bethlehem were called off due to the Israel-Hamas war. Bethlehem is having a subdued Christmas after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. Gift shops were slow to open on Christmas Eve, although a few did once the rain had stopped pouring down. Bethlehem is having a subdued Christmas after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. The Gaza war has been accompanied by a surge in violence, with some 300 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire.