At long last, crowds descended upon Bethlehem to partake in Christmas festivities, marking the occasion as the first since the U.S.-crafted Israel-Hamas peace accord came into effect.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who has held the position of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, initiated the celebrations with a traditional procession from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. He wished for “a Christmas full of light,” according to The Associated Press. Upon reaching Manger Square, named after the manger where Christian tradition holds Jesus was laid after his birth, Pizzaballa conveyed greetings from the Christian community in Gaza, where he had conducted a pre-Christmas Mass the previous Sunday, the AP reported.

Addressing the assembled crowd, Pizzaballa stated, “We, all together, we decide to be the light, and the light of Bethlehem is the light of the world,” as reported by the AP.

The scene at Manger Square was vibrant, with people gathering around the Christmas tree during the Christmas Eve events led by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in Bethlehem’s Old City in the West Bank on December 24, 2025. (Mussa Qawasma/Reuters)

Back in November, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Canawati shared the news that the city’s Christmas celebrations would resume.

“From the heart of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, the city of peace — once again, we ignite the flame of hope and raise our prayers for peace,” Canawati said in a video posted to Instagram.

“Let us celebrate together the message of Christmas,” he added. “Glory to God in the highest — on Earth, peace, goodwill to all. Bethlehem keeps the light alive.”

Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born, started its Christmas festivities on Dec. 6 with the city’s first Christmas tree lighting since 2022.

“We came to celebrate, watch and enjoy, because for several years we haven’t had the chance,” said Randa Bsoul, a Palestinian from Haifa, Israel, told Reuters at the time.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2025. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

Bethlehem, over which the Palestinian Authority has limited control due to the Oslo Accords, has seen limited, if any, Christmas celebrations over the past two years due to the war in Gaza. During the war, Manger Square featured a nativity scene of baby Jesus surrounded by rubble and barbed wire in homage to the situation in Gaza.

During the war, Bethlehem, which relies on tourism, saw a massive drop in visitors. Canawati said earlier this month that the city’s unemployment rate jumped from 14% to 65%, according to the AP. Additionally, poverty in Bethlehem soared with approximately 4,000 people left searching for work.

Clergy members stand, on the day Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa attends Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, in the West Bank, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2025. (Ammar Awad/Reuters)

The U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal has largely remained in place, despite both sides accusing the other of violating the agreement. Recently, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said that preparations for the second phase of the plan were underway, following high-level talks in Miami with representatives from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.