Pope Francis devoted his Christmas Day blessing to a call for peace in the world, noting that the biblical story of the birth of Christ in Bethlehem sent a message of peace. But he said Bethlehem "is a place of sorrow and silence" this year.
Bethlehem s Palestinian Christians observe sombre Christmas amid Gaza onslaught - Doha News dohanews.co - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dohanews.co Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Christian calls for a ceasefire in Israel are growing louder. Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, were canceled due to Gaza bombings.
A pall of gloom descended over Bethlehem on Christmas Eve as the Gaza war weighed heavily on the biblical city in the occupied West Bank and the usual crowds of pilgrims stayed away.The West Bank has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.