610 Gaza Christians travel to West Bank for Christmas celebrations
Published 24 December 2013 12:28
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=659734

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Christian residents of the Gaza Strip on Tuesday left
to the West Bank where they will participate in Christmas celebrations in
Bethlehem, Palestinian sources said.

Officials in the Palestinian liaison department told Ma'an that Israel
allowed 610 Gaza Christians to travel to the West Bank to join Christmas
celebrations.

Two-week permits were given to young people under 16 and adults over 35
years old.

Public information officer of the Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City
Kamil Ayyad told Ma'an that Christmas celebrations in the Gaza Strip are
"restricted to religious rites."

He highlighted that previously, a Christmas tree used to be lit every year
at the Square of the Unknown Soldier in Gaza City.

"Now adays, we celebrate inside the church only due to the siege and the
dire economic and political conditions."

Around 1,500 of the Gaza Strip's 1.7 million residents are Christians, while
the rest are Muslim. Christians make up around 10% of the worldwide
Palestinian population more broadly.

The Gaza Strip has been under a severe blockade imposed by Israel since
2006. The blockade includes severe restrictions on the movement of Gazans as
well as imports and exports.