Christmas spirit returns to Bethlehem after ceasefire in Gaza

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — At midnight on Christmas Eve, the words of the traditional hymn “The Night of Christmas” will ring out in the tiny grotto in Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born.

“On the night of Christmas, war is buried, On the night of Christmas, love is born,” a local choir sings each year during the midnight service. As they rehearsed ahead of this year's service, many choir members said the words echoed with deeper meaning following the ceasefire in Gaza.

“It reminds us that no matter the difficulties, the darkness, there is always a light and that hope is always alive,” said Joseph Hazboun, the conductor of the lay choir made up of local Catholics.

For the past two years, as the war in Gaza dragged on, Christmas in Bethlehem has been a somber affair, without the traditional festivities and decorations and music. But this year, families are flocking again to Manger Square, signaling hope about the fragile ceasefire and providing a much-needed economic boost to Bethlehem.

On a recent visit, Manger Square was crowded and buzzing with festive lights, a Christmas market, and music shows for children.

“You can see the town come alive again,” said Zoya Thalgia, a resident of Bethlehem. “Everyone’s happy, everyone’s coming out to celebrate, no matter religion, no matter their stance, everyone is here.”

Christmas and religious pilgrims have always been a prime economic engine for Bethlehem. Around 80% of the Muslim-majority city’s residents depend upon tourism-related businesses, according to the local government. During good times, their earnings ripple out to communities across the West Bank, a territory occupied by Israel since 1967 that has long struggled with poverty.

But during the Gaza war, the unemployment rate in the city jumped from 14% to 65%, Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati said earlier this month. And in previous years, as an act of protest, some churches created Nativity scenes with Jesus as an infant surrounded by rubble and barbed wire.

Despite the ceasefire that began in October, tensions remain high across much of the West Bank.

Israel’s military has said it is cracking down on militants in the territory and carrying out frequent raids. Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank this year reached their highest level since the U.N. humanitarian office started collecting data in 2006.

Odette Al Sliby, a Bethlehem resident, has sung in choirs since she was seven years old, but she said few things compare to being able to sing in the grotto at the midnight Mass.

“It’s very holy, the place and the atmosphere and the songs and the words,” she said. Singing those songs is a message of hope, she said, and a reminder to Christians of the significance of endurance. “As Christians in the Holy Land, there is a big message of being here,” she said.

Christians account for less than 2% of the West Bank’s roughly 3 million residents, a presence that has been shrinking.

As poverty and unemployment have soared during the war, about 4,000 people have left Bethlehem in search of work, the mayor said. It’s part of a worrying trend for Christians, who are leaving the region in droves.

Across the Middle East, the Christian population has steadily declined as people have fled conflict and attacks.

Hazboun said he will pray this Christmas that the Christian population of Bethlehem and of other areas in the region important to Christianity don’t shrink any further.

The return of Christmas festivities across the West Bank, including a Christmas market in Ramallah thronged with visitors, is a much-needed break for local children, said Hazboun.

While Palestinians in the West Bank are still devastated by the images coming out of Gaza, lighting the community Christmas tree in Bethlehem's Manger Square for the first time in two years earlier this month provided a boost of much-needed holiday joy.

“We continue to pray for peace. This is the land of peace, it’s the land where the Prince of Peace was born, and we continue to pray and hope that one day we all will enjoy peace,” Hazboun said.

Palestinians pose for the pictures with performers in Manger Square in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Palestinians watch performances in Manger Square in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Joseph Hazboun, left, leads the rehearsal of a choir in St. Catherine's Church in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

Palestinian vendors wait for clients in Manger Square in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

People pose for a picture in Manger Square in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Breezy Johnson is poised to earn her second gold of the Olympics on Tuesday — as long as teammate Mikaela Shiffrin can maintain the U.S. squad's advantage in the new team combined event.

The team combined consists of one racer competing in a downhill run and another in a slalom run, with the times from the two runs added together to determine the results.

Johnson gave her and Shiffrin a narrow edge by finishing 0.06 seconds ahead of Ariane Raedler of Austria and 0.27 in front of Laura Pirovano of Italy. Johnson is seeking her second gold in the Dolomite Mountains after finishing atop the podium in the downhill on Sunday.

“I didn’t feel so worried that I was going to blow out, which was my biggest fear today,” Johnson said. “And then I just was like, ‘Let’s have some fun. Let’s ski relaxed and free.’ And I feel like I did that.”

The slalom run is Tuesday afternoon and Shiffrin — the most decorated skier in history — will step into the starter's house in search of a bit of vindication after being unable to medal in any of the six events she entered four years ago in Beijing.

Johnson said Shiffrin texted that she was "blown away by the run because she’s very complimentary.

“And I just said, ‘No pressure from me and go get ’em,’” Johnson added. “I already have my gold medal. I hope that she has fun and does her best. But if anything happens, I’m not going to be like, ‘Oh you ruined anything.’”

The U.S. also has another medal contending team in Jacqueline Wiles and Paula Moltzan. Wiles placed fourth in the downhill leg, 0.45 behind.

Johnson and childhood friend Shiffrin already combined to win gold in this event when it made its debut at last year's world championships, with Johnson also winning the downhill at the event in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria.

“It’s super special to bring it full circle,” Johnson said. “It’s been something that I’ve wanted ever since they announced this event. It’s not something that existed when we were kids (so) to be able to have a moment where you win a gold medal with one of your best friends is not something that a lot of people get to experience.”

There were no major crashes on the course where American star Lindsey Vonn broke her left leg on Sunday, though U.S. teammate Bella Wright lost her balance exiting Gate 4 — the same gate Vonn clipped — and drifted wide of the following gate. Wright was not injured and skied safely down.

Wright was one of two skiers unable to finish the downhill leg. Italian star Sofia Goggia lost her edge just past the midway point, much to the dismay of the hometown crowd in the bleachers below.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

United States' Breezy Johnson after completing an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

United States' Breezy Johnson speeds down the course during an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

United States' Breezy Johnson celebrates at the finish area of an alpine ski, downhill portion of a women's team combined race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)