Christians in Gaza Barred From Visits To West Bank Holy Site

Ellen al-Salfiti could not wait to grow up and go to high school. However, on this day she hated her 16 years of age. The application she submitted on Dec. 9 to obtain a permit to celebrate Christmas in the cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem was declined by the Israeli authorities.

According to the Israeli conditions, no Palestinian Christians from the Gaza Strip — whether male or female — are allowed to enter the West Bank, except for those who are under the age of 16 or above the age of 35.

“I feel sad. There’s nothing for me to do here. We can see the joy of Christmas on television, but the true meaning of this holy day can only be felt in Ramallah and Bethlehem. There is nothing in Gaza. I feel so sad because I am now one year older. I cried when I learned that my permit was declined. If I were still one year younger, I would have been able to visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity,” she said.

Ellen has been accustomed to visiting the city of Bethlehem with her mother every year to celebrate Christmas with the Orthodox Church on Jan. 7. However, this year Ellen’s permit was declined by the Israeli authorities, and her mother stayed with her in Gaza.

“You cannot feel the spirit of Christmas here, while the real holiday is there in Bethlehem. There, decorated trees are everywhere, scouts singing Christmas carols, and tourists from all over the world wandering the streets. It has been ages since the last time we celebrated Christmas openly in Gaza. Today, we spend the holiday praying, visiting relatives only to return home to sleep. I did not even make any pastries this holiday,” said Ellen’s mother, Faten al-Salfiti, who is 53 years old.

Faten misses her son, who left Gaza for Europe. She said that he calls her all the time, especially now with the holidays approaching. He wishes that they were with him so that they could celebrate Christmas all together. Faten pointed to the Christmas tree standing in the corner of her living room, saying that “we see it as a symbol, which is the only reminder of the festive season.”

Faten’s husband, Nabil al-Salfiti, who is 61 years old, shares the same opinion as his wife. “The joy of the holiday has changed, and so did Gaza. The spirit of Christmas is no longer the same as it used be during our childhood in Gaza,” he said.