Hope arose amid the debris and pain: Is the joy of Christmas returning to Gaza and Bethlehem in 2025?

News India Live, Digital Desk: As soon as the month of December arrives, discussion about cake, lights and Christmas tree starts around us. But, in one part of the world this festival is not just a celebration but a fight for survival and hope. We are talking about Bethlehem and Gaza. December of the year 2025 is telling a different story. There are reports that some Christmas rituals are returning in Gaza and Bethlehem. But do you know why this place is so special and why even lighting a lamp there holds so much significance today? Bethlehem: The Small Town That Changed the World Bethlehem, which we see today in the West Bank (Palestine), is considered the holiest center of Christianity. History is witness that Lord Jesus was born in this small town. You must have read in the Bible stories how a star (Star of Bethlehem) showed the way. The ‘Church of the Nativity’ present here is one of the oldest churches in the world. It is believed that this church was built at the exact place where Jesus was born in the stable. Every year people from all over the world used to come here just to kiss that land. Christmas in Gaza: Searching for light in the darkness Gaza, which has been in the news only for destruction and war for some time, the mention of Christmas 2025 is an emotional moment in itself. Celebrating Christmas has not been easy for the small Christian community living here. Many times festivals were cancelled, many times prayers were offered in silence. But this time when there is talk of ‘return of Christmas’, it does not mean decorations or parties. It means the will to survive. If someone is joining hands in prayer amidst the debris, he is giving the biggest message of peace to the world. History and today’s truth The history of Bethlehem is thousands of years old. It is not only the birthplace of Jesus Christ, but is also considered the city of King David in Judaism. In a time when there seems to be less peace and more tension, history still beats within the walls of this city. For its people, Christmas 2025 is not just a date, but an opportunity to remind the world that no matter how much hatred there is, hope is always born like a little child—just like it was in Bethlehem two thousand years ago.