Additional reporting by Maha Abdul Hady, IOL Palestine Correspondent

REOCCUPIED BETHLEHEM, December 23 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Pain and misery are shared by Christian and Muslim families in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, one day before Christmas night.

Christians are now facing what their Muslim brothers faced during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr.

The majority of Christian families can not perform their religious rituals freely, due to Israeli blockades and curfews imposed on Bethlehem, where hearts and souls of all Christians worldwide are directed.

The City of Peace is dominated by a gloomy atmosphere.

Two years ago, Bethlehem streets, at this time of year, looked cheerfully decorated, welcoming its own people and foreign visitors with open, joyful arms.

Today, in light of continuous Israeli aggressions, the city where Jesus Christ was born, lacks the simplest signs of joy or even religious celebrations. All daily activities, economic, commercial, educational, health and even tourist, are completely paralyzed.

Around Manger Square, in front of the Church of the Nativity marking Jesus’ birthplace, no foreign tourist could be seen. This gives a clear idea of the situation on the ground, as this place, in particular, used to be overcrowded during this time every year.

Even the shops selling statues of the nativity scene with a baby Jesus in his crib and other traditional decorations, all have their doors shut.

The lifting of the army curfew for a few hours every four or five days is not enough to pull in the punters.

Instead of hearing the Churches’ bells, only the terrible sounds of Israeli tanks, armored vehicles, as well as gun shots are roaring in the skies of the holy city.

“We will find solace at the midnight mass, beyond that, there won’t be any Christmas celebrations,” he said, adding that “ironically we'll commemorate the birth of Christ, the man who embodies peace.”

The church’s Father Gianni, however, is confident Christmas celebrations will proceed uninterrupted.

“I think everything will go smoothly. I hope that our brothers from outside Bethlehem will be able to attend the procession and mass,” he said.

“But we won’t rejoice as we used to. The violence is such that it would be difficult. We shall find peace and comfort in our faith.”

Raghida Sarsur told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that she only intended to pray this year: "I can't imagine celebrating anything. For one, we don't have money and what's more, we're psychologically battered after two years of death and wanton destruction."

Another Palestinian couple, Osama al-Zughbi and his wife Mira, said even their wedding last June was marred by the practices of Israeli occupation forces. "The army rolled in Bethlehem just as we were getting married," Osama recalled.

"We have no life, no work how can we feel happy inside?" he wonders, adding that he hopes to find "inner peace during the Christmas prayers."

"We'll have dinner, just the two us. We don't even have a tree. Look, there are no decorations anywhere in Bethlehem, the municipality is broke and no one is in the mood for celebrating," adds Mira.

Nativity Church warden Father Ibrahim Faltas concurred: "This will be saddest Christmas ever celebrated in Bethlehem. We shall pray for peace but we won't celebrate beyond the traditional Christmas procession and mass."

He, too, said he does not anticipate any problem with the army, although the town has been under full Israeli control since late November, and on and off since last April.

"I don't think there will be any problem. The army will not show up on Manger Square. Israeli troops will be around, but not visible," he said.