Groups of Palestinians called for a ceasefire in Gaza as early as possible on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem. The city in the Palestinian territory of the West Bank is said to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Children marched through the streets of Bethlehem with signs reading "stop the massacre" in Gaza.

Hundreds of people including Palestinian Christians gathered at a square to greet Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the top Roman Catholic cleric in the Holy Land, who had come to celebrate Mass.

He said this is the second year to have a sad Christmas.
He said he had just arrived the previous day from Gaza where he saw everything destroyed. But he added that he also saw life, and called on people not to give up.
Attacks by the Israeli military continued on Christmas Eve in Gaza. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has continued for over a year. Gaza's local health authorities say 45,338 people have died.

The Health Ministry says more than 816 Palestinians have died across the West Bank and Jerusalem since October 7 last year in military operations by Israeli security forces.