Gaza Christians received an early Christmas gift from Israel
December 25, 2009
Some 300 Gaza Christians received an early Christmas gift from Israel today: permission to travel to Bethlehem, revered by Christians around the world as the birthplace of Jesus.
Some 300 Gaza Christians received an early Christmas gift from Israel today: permission to travel to Bethlehem, revered by Christians around the world as the birthplace of Jesus. Tens of thousands of pilgrims descend on the West Bank city every year between Dec. 25 and the Eastern Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7 to pray and hold services, many in the Church of the Nativity.
The Gaza Christians allowed to travel starting Thursday make up less than half of the 750 Gazans who applied for permits, with Israel strictly limiting travel out of the Hamas-run territory.