Israel to allow Gazan Christians into Bethlehem for Christmas
Israeli announced that about 500 permits will be available to Gaza's 1,000 Christians to enter Israel and the West Bank for Christmas celebrations.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — About half of the Gaza Strip's Christian population will be allowed to enter Israel and the West Bank to celebrate Christmas. Israel will offer some permits to visit relatives and holy places in Israel and the West Bank and about 200 people will be allowed to travel abroad through Israel to Jordan.
About 1,030 Christians live in Gaza, a small proportion of Gaza’s population of two million. Christians in Palestine celebrate Christmas according to the Western calendar on Dec. 25, while Orthodox groups celebrate it on Jan. 7.
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem attracts tens of thousands of Christians from around the world at Christmas time.
In 2019 and 2020, the Israeli authorities prevented Gaza’s Christians from making their usual Christmas trips to Bethlehem. In 2019, they allowed a limited number to travel outside Gaza but not to the West Bank.
