A Christmas tree was lit up in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem on Saturday evening amidst the COVID-19 lockdown, Anadolu Agency reported.
The annual lighting of the tree near the Church of Nativity, which usually sees locals gather in large numbers to celebrate the start of the festive season, was a muted affair this year due to the coronavirus restrictions with only a small crowd present.
Christmas festivities are typically a boost for Bethlehem, which is surrounded by Israel’s illegal Separation Wall cutting the city off from the rest of the occupied West Bank.
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