There are not the usual cheerful street decorations nor the giant Christmas tree in front of the Nativity Church, bui

Some say that the community is in danger of losing its 1,600-year foothold in the enclave and that it is far from certain those who have fled will ever feel safe enough to return home.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Bethlehem marked another somber Christmas Eve on Tuesday in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza.

The city of Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, will not have the usual trappings of the city's favorite holiday: no public Christmas tree, no raucous scouts march,

One Gazan said Christmas 'carries the stench of death and destruction' as Israel's war on the Palestinian territory remains ongoing for over a year.

The usual crowds of tourists and fest of lights are missing in Bethlehem for the second year, under the shadow of the war in Gaza. NBC News’ Raf Sanchez spoke with Nuha Tarazi, who shared how difficult it is to celebrate while her family suffers in Gaza.

As Christmas arrives, the small Christian community in the Gaza Strip is again facing a season mired in war. Once a time marked by family gatherings, decorations and liturgies, the holiday this year will be spent in makeshift shelters in partially destroyed churches standing amid the ruins of a war-torn enclave.

This Christmas season, like last year's, the Christian community in Gaza are spending the holiday mourning incalculable losses amid the ongoing war with Israel.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — Bethlehem prepared Tuesday to mark another somber Christmas in the traditional birthplace of Jesus under the shadow of war in Gaza .

As conflict persists and tourist influx remains limited, public celebrations in the Old City are canceled for the second year in a row, but some refuse to give in to despair The post Jerusalem’s Christmas dimmed by war,