Gaza's Christians could not celebrate or experience any joy on Christmas for the second consecutive year as Israel continues its brutal war in the enclave. Christians, like other people in the Gaza Strip, are also deprived of access to basic necessities.

Faith leaders and residents in Bethlehem are grappling with how to mark the festive holiday while fellow Palestinians continue to be killed.

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.