Bethlehem's Christmas Joy Amidst West Bank's Persistent Struggles
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, once again witnessed Christmas celebrations, but the festive atmosphere was tinged with the shadows of ongoing challenges faced by Palestinians in the West Bank. Despite the return of the annual mass at the Church of Nativity, the region's turmoil persisted, marked by a tumultuous year for those under Israeli occupation.
On the day before Christmas, Manger Square buzzed with activity as Palestinians and foreign tourists gathered for the first time in two years, a break from their usual solidarity with the Palestinians enduring the deadly war in Gaza. However, the attendance was notably limited, a stark contrast to previous years. According to Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti, this was primarily due to Israeli military checkpoints that effectively sealed off the West Bank, making travel and access extremely difficult.
"The West Bank is under a complete siege," Barghouti told CNN's Matthew Chance. "Israel has blocked the roads, and many people couldn't come. Many can't afford to travel, and those who can find it incredibly challenging to move around."
The ongoing war in Gaza has exacerbated the situation in the occupied West Bank, leading to a surge in Israeli military operations, unprecedented home demolitions, and the rapid expansion of Jewish settlements. The Palestinian leadership, grappling with corruption allegations and stagnant decision-making, has struggled to address these issues effectively.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) reported in November that over 30,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes in West Bank cities in 2025, marking the longest and largest displacement crisis in the region since 1967. The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, is home to more than 3.3 million Palestinians.
The year 2025 saw a record number of Palestinian home demolitions in the West Bank due to building permit violations, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). NRC's Regional Director, Angelita Caredda, described this destruction as a "deliberate policy of dispossession," where families are being forcibly removed from their homes, water sources, and livelihoods to make way for settlements.
The West Bank has also witnessed a high number of killings, with at least 233 Palestinians, including 52 children, losing their lives this year, most at the hands of Israeli forces using live ammunition, according to OCHA data. Israeli military operations against Palestinian militant groups in West Bank cities have intensified, coinciding with record-breaking illegal settlement construction across the Palestinian territories.
In a concerning development, the Israeli cabinet recently approved the legalization and establishment of 19 settler outposts, and in May, Israel announced plans for 22 new settlements, the largest expansion in over 30 years, according to the Peace Now organization. These actions are deemed illegal under international law and are banned under Israeli law.
"These unilateral actions, part of a broader intensification of settlement policies, not only violate international law but also risk fueling instability," stated 14 countries in a joint critique of the 19 new settlements. The rejection of a future Palestinian state by Israeli leaders, especially after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, has further complicated the situation, despite international calls for a negotiated solution to the prolonged occupation.
