Priests pray in the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Worshippers pray in the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A priest walks in the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Workers in the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Birds fly above the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A worshipper visits the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Worshippers visit the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A boy sells balloons outside the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Saturday Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A man rests by a row of empty shops near the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A boy waits outside a souvenir shop near the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Saturday Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
Workers tend to stairs in the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A worshipper lights a candle in the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A shop near Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, seen ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)
A man waits outside a souvenir shop near the Church of the Nativity, where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, ahead of Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Saturday Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)