BEIT JALA, Occupied Palestinian Territories / PNN/ Monjed Jadou  

Beit Jala marked the lighting of its Christmas tree this year with a distinctive national celebration that paid tribute to Gaza in particular and to the Palestinian people as a whole, underscoring the people’s will to remain rooted in their land, like the olive tree.

Religious leaders from Beit Jala’s various denominations, the city’s mayor, Ramzi Khoury, head of the Presidential Higher Committee for Church Affairs, Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Hani Al-Hayek, and Bethlehem Governor Mohammed Taha Abu Alia jointly lit the Christmas tree.

Ahead of the lighting, senior clergy offered a blessing for the tree, formally signalling the start of the celebration.

The ceremony featured religious, artistic and folkloric performances reflecting Beit Jala’s national and cultural heritage. The Baladi Cultural and Folklore Group presented traditional performances, alongside national songs performed by local artists from the city.

Speaking to Palestine News Network (PNN), Ramzi Khoury said that despite the pain, war and deep wounds, the celebration reaffirmed a message of hope and steadfastness on the land.

“From here, where Christianity set out to the world, we ask the world: where are you in the face of what is happening in Palestine — of killing, injustice and persecution?” Khoury said. He added that through such events, Palestinians are calling for further international recognition and concrete measures to support the Palestinian people and halt the injustice they face.

Khoury stressed that the Christmas tree lighting in Beit Jala carries multiple messages — to Palestinians, affirming unity, and to the world, asserting that Palestinians are a people who deserve life, remain steadfast on their land and hold firmly to their rights.

Beit Jala Mayor Issa Ja‘anineh welcomed guests, saying the city would remain steadfast “until the bells of truth ring, a just and comprehensive peace is achieved, and the Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital”.

He said celebrating Christmas despite the pain confirms that Palestinians remain on their land “like the olive tree”, calling on residents to stand firm and urging members of the diaspora to support and stay connected with the city and its people.

In remarks to PNN, Ja‘anineh said the Christmas tree lighting symbolised love, brotherhood and unity despite suffering, adding that lighting the tree meant lighting the tree of hope and life in Palestine. He said the event, held after two years without celebrations in solidarity with Gaza, was a call to the world to stand with the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.

The mayor thanked Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, the tourism minister and partners including Bank of Palestine, Jawwal telecommunications, the Jerusalem District Electricity Company and Al-Ihsan Association, as well as the city’s Christmas committee, residents and institutions, for contributing to the event’s success.

The celebration, attended by senior officials and representing the prime minister through Tourism Minister Hani Al-Hayek, also reflected hopes that the holiday season could help revive the economy and strengthen resilience.

Al-Hayek conveyed greetings from President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mustafa, and their Christmas wishes, saying he had been tasked with representing them at the national event.

“We gather today in the historic Palestinian city of Beit Jala — a living model of steadfastness, deep belonging and resilience in the face of challenges — to light the Christmas tree and prepare for the feast of the city’s patron saint, Saint Nicholas,” Al-Hayek said.

He stressed that the Palestinian leadership continues to work, despite obstacles, to secure the rights of the Palestinian people, end the occupation and achieve freedom and independence, underscoring that unity and steadfastness remain the strongest foundation in confronting challenges.

Al-Hayek noted that Beit Jala, like other Palestinian cities, suffers from land confiscations, restrictions and repeated attacks, particularly around the Cremisan Valley — the city’s natural and historical lung. He said such policies would not break the will of residents rooted in their land and committed to dignity, life and preserving their national and human heritage.

He emphasised the importance of the Tourism Ministry’s efforts to restore tourism, describing it as Palestine’s window to the world, through which visitors can learn the reality of the Palestinian people and convey it internationally.

Religious leaders said the celebration sent both a religious and national message from Beit Jala to Gaza and to the world, calling for justice and the lifting of oppression.

Archbishop Atallah Hanna of Sebastia, who led the blessing prayer, said the day was one of joy mixed with pain amid the suffering in Gaza. “Christmas for us is both a religious and national occasion to tell the world that justice is absent and that it must stand with the oppressed and support the Palestinian people’s long-awaited freedom,” he told PNN, stressing that the message remains one of hope, justice and rightful cause.

Residents said Christmas represents a message of life and hope, and that celebrating it affirms Palestinian unity.

Imad Nour, head of the Arab Orthodox Al-Ihsan Association, said the celebrations aimed to restore smiles to children’s faces while honouring the sacrifices made on the path to freedom.

Huda Amro, a Beit Jala resident, said seeing the Christmas tree lit again was deeply moving and showed the world that Palestinians remain united and steadfast on their land. She sent greetings to Gaza’s residents, expressing hope they would join the celebrations next year.

Mona Matar, head of the Our Authentic Heritage Women’s Association, described the atmosphere as calm and hopeful, saying the tree carried messages of peace and love. Ghada Rabie said the essence of the holiday lay in standing with the poor and oppressed, noting that while people are weary, hope endures.

This year’s Christmas tree lighting carried strong national meanings rooted in the message of Christmas and the teachings of Jesus Christ — calling for freedom, justice and an end to oppression — as the city urged the international community to act to stop Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people.