On Friday, Palestinian Christians are getting ready to celebrate Christmas amid the Coronavirus pandemic in accordance with the health protocol. 

The Israeli occupation allowed only 468 Christians from the Gaza Strip to participate in the celebrations.

The various streets, neighborhoods, and alleys of Beit Lahm, especially Manger Square, were decorated to welcome the Christmas vibes. 

For the second year in a row, participation will be limited to Palestinians from the occupied West Bank governorates and from the 1948 territories who came to attend the ceremony of lighting up the Christmas tree.

The Director of Al Mayadeen's office in occupied Palestine confirmed that the Israeli occupation deprived all Christians in Gaza of participating in Beit Lahm's celebrations, by denting them any permits. 

مدير مكتب #الميادين في #فلسطين المحتلة: "لم يسمح الاحتلال لكل مسيحيي #غزة بالمشاركة في الاحتفال بـ #بيت_لحم".#ميلاد_مجيد #كنيسة_المهد pic.twitter.com/oWLgjVwDFj

— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) December 24, 2021

The biggest celebrations will be held in the Nativity Square that will see the entry of the scouts' teams and the arrival of the procession of Patriarch Pier Battista Pizzaballa at noon.

The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Rola Maayah, confirmed that despite the Corona pandemic, Christmas would bring along joy, hope, and optimism for the Palestinian people to revive their religious and national occasions following health protocols.  

In parallel, the mayor of Beit Lahm, Anton Salman, mentioned that humanity is suffering from the spread of the Corona pandemic. He added that "despite this, we decided to rise above all difficulties, arm ourselves with the values ​​of Christmas, and overcome pain with hope to celebrate the holiday with great joy and to return to Christmas its joy and sublime meanings."