Hundreds gathered at the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem in the West Bank as the leader of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land marked the second Christmas Midnight Mass under the shadow of the war in Gaza.

At Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, residents and businesses are facing the effects of the Israel-Hamas war during the holiday season. The city, usually filled with tourists during this time,

He also noted that Israel has killed other leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, helped topple Syria’s Bashar Assad and destroyed Iran’s anti-aircraft systems. “We will strike (the Houthis’) strategic infrastructure and cut off the head of the leadership,

Israel Katz admitted for the first time publicly to Israel's killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran in July, further risking tensions in the region.

Ismail Haniyeh was Hamas's most prominent leader until his death in July.