Bethlehem set to mark second subdued Christmas during war in Gaza
Bethlehem (West Bank), Dec 24: Bethlehem prepared on Tuesday to mark another sombre Christmas in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza.
The excitement and cheer that typically descends on the Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank on Christmas were nowhere to be found: The festive lights and giant tree that normally decorate Manger Square were missing. Throngs of foreign tourists that usually fill the square weren't expected and youth marching bands that gather each year to mark the holiday were absent.
Palestinian security forces arranged barriers near the Nativity Church, built atop the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born, and a worker cleared garbage bins.
"Always the message of Bethlehem is a message of peace and hope," said Mayor Anton Salman. “And these days, we are also sending our message to the world: peace and hope, but insisting that the world must work to end our suffering as Palestinian people.”
The cancellation of Christmas festivities is a severe blow to the town's economy. Tourism accounts for an estimated 70 per cent of Bethlehem's income — almost all of it from the Christmas season. Salman said unemployment is hovering around 50 per cent — higher than the 30 per cent unemployment across the rest of the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Finance Ministry.
The number of visitors to the town plunged from a pre-COVID high of around 2 million visitors per year in 2019 to fewer than 100,000 visitors in 2024, said Jiries Qumsiyeh, the spokesperson for the Palestinian Tourism Ministry.
Bethlehem is an important centre in the history of Christianity, but Christians make up only a small percentage of the roughly 14 million people spread across the Holy Land. There are about 182,000 in Israel, 50,000 in the West Bank and Jerusalem and 1,300 in Gaza, according to the US State Department.
While the war in Gaza has deterred tourists and pilgrims alike, it has also prompted a surge of violence in the West Bank, with more than 800 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire and dozens of Israelis killed in Hamas group attacks.
Since the October 7, 2023, attack that sparked the war, access to and from Bethlehem and other Palestinian towns in the West Bank has been difficult, with long lines of motorists waiting to pass Israeli military checkpoints. Restrictions have also prevented some 150,000 Palestinians from leaving the territory to work in Israel, causing the economy there to contract by 25 per cent.
More than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to health officials there, while some 90 per cent of the territory's 2.3 million residents have been displaced. Officials say more than half of the dead are women and children, though they don't give a breakdown of how many are civilians and how many fighters.
In the October 7 assault on southern Israel, Hamas-led group killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took more than 250 hostages.
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Bengaluru: Self-service QR-based ticketing system introduced at Baiyappanahalli Metro station
Bengaluru: In a move to enhance commuter convenience and reduce ticketing queues, 10 new self-service QR-based ticketing machines have been installed at Baiyappanahalli Metro Station in Bengaluru.
The initiative by Namma Metro allows passengers to obtain their tickets in under 30 seconds through a user-friendly two-step process.
To use the machines, commuters simply need to select their destination via a drop-down menu or map displayed on the screen, enter the number of passengers, and review the fare. Payment is made via any UPI-based mobile application, ensuring a swift and cashless transaction. Upon successful payment, the machine issues a paper QR ticket, which can be scanned at the entry and exit gates of the metro station.
According to Namma Metro authorities, the new system is aimed at improving efficiency, promoting digital transactions, and easing congestion during peak hours.
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) introduces Self-Service Ticket Machines for faster and hassle-free commuting. Check the official press release for more details. pic.twitter.com/e6iHpdcGSk
— ನಮ್ಮ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ (@OfficialBMRCL) May 7, 2025
