Custodian of the Holy Land at the Catholic Church: We hope for an end to the war in Palestine.

The Guardian of the Holy Land in the Catholic Church, Francesco Yalbo, expressed hope on Saturday for an end to the Israeli war in Palestine, and for peace and love to prevail in the world.

This came in statements made by Yalbo to reporters upon his arrival in Bethlehem, in the southern part of the occupied West Bank, marking the beginning of the religious rituals for Christmas according to the Western calendar.

In Bethlehem, an official and popular reception ceremony was held for Father Yalbo, attended by representatives of the Palestinian government.

Yalbo said: "We send a message to the world today that Bethlehem carries the message of Christmas, and we will pray for hope, love, and peace from Bethlehem and Palestine to the world, and we hope that the coming year will bring hope and goodness, and that the war in Palestine will end."

During the reception, Ramzi Khoury, the head of the Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, stated to reporters that Bethlehem "is armed with hope for change for the better."

Khoury called on the world to come to the city and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a solidarity event was held with the Gaza Strip, which included lighting candles alongside solidarity messages for the region, and a call to lift the siege, provide aid, and facilitate reconstruction.

Christian denominations that follow the Western calendar (including Catholics) celebrate Christmas on December 25 each year, while those that follow the Eastern calendar (including Orthodox) celebrate the holiday on January 7.

For the past two years, the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem have been affected by a state of security tension accompanying the genocide in the Gaza Strip that began on October 8, 2023, and lasted for two years, leading to a near-total halt in tourism.

During the past two years, Israel has killed more than 69,000 Palestinians in Gaza and injured over 170,000, while the Israeli army and settlers in the West Bank have killed at least 1,085 Palestinians and injured about 11,000, in addition to arresting more than 21,000.

Christians from all over the world pilgrimage to Bethlehem in late December each year to celebrate Christmas, visiting the Church of the Nativity and ensuring they acquire souvenirs made from olive wood.

Bethlehem is a historic city located in the southern West Bank, gaining its sanctity from the presence of the "Church of the Nativity," which was built over a cave believed to be where Mary, the daughter of Imran, peace be upon her, gave birth to her son, Christ Jesus, peace be upon him.