christmas

Palestinian children play near displaced families' tents, on the beach in al-Mawasi, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, December 28, 2025. (Doaa Albaz/Activestills)
‘We deserve peace’: Gaza ushers in new year with little relief in sight
Once a time of joy, the holiday season came amid ongoing bombardment and displacement — but still the determination to imagine brighter days.
By Ruwaida Amer January 8, 2026
Christmas celebrations in Nazareth, December 22, 2025. (Courtesy of the Orthodox Council of Nazareth)
In Nazareth, holiday festivities mask a ‘deep rot’
Facing rampant crime and corruption, a steep deficit, and a lack of municipal services, can the Palestinian ‘capital city’ inside Israel make a recovery?
By Baker Zoubi January 5, 2026
People gather near the entrance to the the church at the Christmas market in Bir'im, Dec. 13, 2025. (Anna Maria Hawa)
In the Galilee hills, Christmas celebrations revive a depopulated Palestinian village
After a two-year absence, displaced residents and their descendants returned to Bir'im — part of efforts since 1948 to keep the community alive.
By Samah Watad December 24, 2025
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People react following Israel's attack on the compound of the Greek Orthodox St. Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, October 20, 2023. (Omar El-Qattaa)
Sheltering in churches, Gaza’s Christians face another Christmas under fire
After repeated Israeli attacks on Gaza's historic churches, displaced Palestinians are mourning loved ones and the joy of holidays past.
By Ruwaida Amer December 24, 2024
From Gaza to Bethlehem: Celebrating Christmas under occupation
Photographer Samar Hazboun captures the subtle, intimate moments of Palestinians celebrating Christmas under siege and occupation, following three families from the Gaza Strip to Bethlehem in the West Bank.
By +972 Magazine December 27, 2018
A protester dressed as Santa Claus runs from a cloud of tear gas shot by Israeli Border Police, Bethlehem, West Bank, December 23, 2016. (Activestills)
PHOTOS: Palestinian Santas protest the occupation in Bethlehem
Roughly 100 people march on a checkpoint in Bethlehem to protest the occupation and mark Christmas. Israeli forces respond by pepper-spraying and teargassing the demonstrators. Text by Oren Ziv. Photos by Oren Ziv, Keren Manor and Shahaf Polakow Around 100 members of the Palestinian Popular Committees marched towards one of Bethlehem’s main checkpoints on Friday to protest…
By Activestills December 23, 2016
A young woman runs next to the Israeli separation wall as hundreds of Palestinian and international athletes took part in the the inaugural Palestine Marathon which took place in Bethlehem, West Bank, April 21, 2013. Under the title "Right to Movement" runners had to complete two laps of the same route, as organizers were unable to find a single course of 42 uninterrupted kilometers under Palestinian Authority control.
In Bethlehem, even running is a political statement
Despite their difficult circumstances, Palestinians in Bethlehem find ways to remind the world that Israel’s occupation cannot exist forever. The organizers of the Palestine Marathon, held annually in the West Bank city of Bethlehem since 2013, recently announced that its next run will take place on Friday 1st April, 2016. The event – one my…
By Amjad Iraqi December 26, 2015
Palestinians dressed up as Santa Claus demonstrate at the separation wall, Bethlehem, December 18, 2015. (photo: Anne Paq/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: Palestinian Santa Clauses clash with Border Police in Bethlehem
Protesters held up posters with messages such as ‘For Christmas I want every Palestinian child back home.’ By Anne Paq and Mustafa Bader / Activestills.org A week before Christmas, Palestinians dressed up as Santa Claus marched toward the separation wall in Bethlehem last Friday, where they clashed with Israeli Border Police. The protesters chanted slogans…
By Activestills December 20, 2015
A Christian Zionist attends a "Stand with Israel" rally in Boston, August 7, 2014. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
Zionist Christians’ war on the true meaning of Christmas
The rhetoric of Christian Zionists consistently places loyalty to the modern state of Israel above the example and teachings of the Jesus born in Bethlehem whose birth Christmas celebrates. It’s time to stop calling such groups Christian Zionists and instead use the term Zionist Christians, to more accurately reflect their priorities. Photos and text by: Ryan…
By Activestills December 17, 2014
A Christmas tree made of razor wire and tear gas grenades is displayed in Manger Square, Bethlehem as part of an activist art exhibit, December 21, 2013. (Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
Photos of the Week: From a razor-wire Christmas to ‘Marches for Freedom’
This week: Former hunger striking Palestinian prisoner gets a taste of freedom; African asylum seekers march through central Tel Aviv and the Negev desert demanding recognition as refugees and an end to detentions; an art exhibit in Bethlehem brings occupation to pilgrims, one tear gas canister at a time; a week after massive storm, Gaza…
By Activestills December 26, 2013
A Bethlehem-area activist hangs U.S.-made tear gas grenades used by the Israeli military in nearby Aida Refugee Camp on trees decorated for Christmas in Bethlehem's Manger Square, West Bank, December 2, 2013. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)
PHOTOS: This tear gas brought to you by the U.S.A.
Text by Ryan Rodrick Beiler On the same day that Bethlehem’s minister of tourism noted that the US government provided $400,000 to decorate the city for Christmas, local activists brought a few more US-sponsored ornaments to show to visitors in this West Bank town at the height of its tourist season. The activists delivered used…
By Activestills December 3, 2013
PM Netanyahu’s Christmas message: We are better than the Arabs (WATCH)
We now open our Christmas celebrations with the traditional Islamophobic message from the Prime Minister’s Office: While Prime Minister Netanyahu is using the holiday to present his tea-party talking points against anything Muslim, it’s a good time to remember that roughly 200,000 more than 170,000 Palestinian Christians are living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank, without proper political representation, freedom of…
By Noam Sheizaf December 24, 2012
Asylum seekers arrested in Tel Aviv raid after authorities announce holiday reprieve
Immigration authorities announced a halt to arrests during the holidays. But just before the announcement went into effect, and as holiday preparations and celebrations got underway in south Tel Aviv, asylum seekers found themselves under arrest and at risk of deportation. By Rami Gudovitch Friday was a rainy day in Tel Aviv. The head of…
By +972 Magazine December 23, 2012
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