This archive report was first published on 24 December 2019.
On Christmas Eve, pilgrims from around the world converged on the biblical city of Bethlehem, revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus. The city, located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, was bustling with activity as tourists and locals alike prepared to celebrate the holiday.
Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, was set to lead midnight mass in the Church of the Nativity, with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas expected to attend. The church, built on the site where Jesus was born, is a revered destination for Christians.
Despite the challenges posed by Israel's separation barrier, which cuts off Bethlehem from Jerusalem, the city was filled with the sounds of drums and music as Palestinian scouts paraded through the streets. Visitors from around the world, including Ola from Nigeria and Germana from Italy, expressed their emotions and gratitude for being able to experience the holiday in the Holy Land.
According to Palestinian tourism minister Rula Maaya, the city had seen a good year, with 3.5 million tourists visiting Bethlehem. However, fewer Christians from the Gaza Strip were in attendance than in previous years, due to Israel's restrictive permit policies.
As the world celebrated Christmas, people in various parts of the globe faced their own challenges. In France, a train driver strike had ruined Christmas travel plans for tens of thousands of people, while in Australia, a frantic scramble for gift promotions left a dozen people injured. In the Philippines, thousands of people were warned to leave their homes as a severe tropical storm approached.
