THE Church of Scotland has issued a statement as Christmas celebrations return to Bethlehem for the first time in three years.
Festivities were cancelled in Bethlehem in both 2023 and 2024 amid Israel's genocide in Gaza and increased violence in the West bank.
Over 70,000 Palestinians have now been killed according to health officials.
But now, amid the so-called ceasefire, coloured lights on tall pine trees will return to the town’s Manger Square, as visitors come to visit Jesus’s birthplace on Christmas Day.
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As people across Scotland celebrate, The Church of Scotland has released a statement to The National praying for “peace to reign”.
Rev Dr Stewart Gillan, minister of the St Andrew’s Church in Jerusalem and Tiberias, said: “This Christmas, the Church of Scotland joins and celebrates with their brothers and sisters in Israel and Palestine as for the first time in three years, they are able to outwardly celebrate the birth of Christ into our broken world.”
He added: “Displays of trees and lights, in Jerusalem, Nazareth, and most encouragingly, Bethlehem, bring a renewed hope.
“On Christmas Eve, the streets of Bethlehem will once again be filled with the sounds of the young scouts playing their pipes and drums joyously for the first time since 2022.”
Gillan went on: “At the Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza, the staff came together to decorate a Christmas tree within the hospital grounds, in a display of resilience, faith, and life, in the midst of what remains an uncertain time.
“Whilst spirits have been lifted, there remains uncertainty as we wait for a conclusion to the wars and conflicts that surround the region.
“We continue to pray for an end to all violence, and for peace to reign this Christmas time.”
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