Seven babies were born last night against a barrage of missiles in the night sky high above Bethlehem. The sounds of war were drowned out by the cry of each infant announcing her or his arrival. The nurses let out joyful congratulations ululating in the traditional welcome of newborn babies. For a moment, each young couple forgot about the unrest and economic challenges on the far side of the wall surrounding Holy Family Hospital. What mattered most to the young fathers were their healthy babies and safely delivered wives.
War and political upheavals are not new to these young families. They have grown up knowing road closures, pop-up checkpoints, and scarcity of fuel, water and electricity. They learned how to keep the hope and to find the joy amidst the hardship of life in Bethlehem.
With longer days and more light, the families of Bethlehem felt certain that better days were near and that pilgrimages would return and the economy would begin to strengthen. They were not expecting to wake up to the news of a wider war and the prospects of another pilgrimage season passing with no pilgrims, leaving 90% of the workforce without salaries with no end in sight.
Lent this year in Bethlehem was especially difficult. Cold weather persisted with frequent rain and winds. Many families follow the old Lenten fast traditions of no meat nor dairy for all of Lent. Olive oil becomes especially important as a source of calories and flavor during Lent. Unfortunately, the harvest last fall was the worst in over a decade, and few families have any reserves. The oil at the market is scarce and too expensive. It is just another daily hardship reminder for the families of Bethlehem. No permits were issued for Bethlehemites or other West Bank Christians to worship in Jerusalem, which furthered the sense of isolation.
The Hospital has resumed emergency procedures, including 12-hour shifts to reduce employees’ time on the roads and exposure to falling missile debris and checkpoints. The village entrances in Area C are locked by the Israeli authorities, making it challenging for patients and some staff to come to the Hospital. The small agricultural byways, which used to be work-arounds, have recently been discovered and blocked. Our Mobile Outreach Clinic has experienced great difficulty in making its daily rounds to the desert communities and isolated villages. Women, children and unborn babies suffer the consequences of war, missing critical medical treatment.
The Hospital set up several additional overnight rooms or places to sleep for staff to ensure proper uninterrupted care for patients. Residents, doctors, midwives and nurses stay at the Hospital to avoid being unable to be present for their shifts.
This is a big sacrifice for male staff as they are uneasy leaving their wives, mothers and children alone during this time of unrest and war. Grandmothers and unemployed family members are helping their families with the children and household duties.
An extraordinary Hospital is always prepared for extraordinary times such as these. The Hospital has continued to maintain a three-month supply of medications and disposables since October 2023. The three water cisterns hold 750 cubic meters of water, and the generators have a 12–14 day fuel supply. This is a hedge against a prolonged closure of Bethlehem. Ordinary citizens struggle to find cooking gas, and gasoline and diesel fuel are in very short supply.
The schools are closed and people have been told to avoid gathering outside or in public places. While the world focuses on Iran, villages in Bethlehem are under siege from Israeli settlers. In the town of Beit Sahour, where the Angels announced the birth of the Christ Child, a new illegal settlement has reached 20 homes for Israeli settlers. The movement restriction in Beit Sahour has increased and the residents are afraid to be outside after dark.
While no one can say that the closures of the pandemic were a blessing, in hindsight it was excellent preparation for what has now come to pass. The citizens have become experienced in dealing with road and school closures and shortages of basic human needs. They are resilient and resourceful, knowing how to live in times of war and deprivation. They count on Holy Family Hospital to care for the women and children of Bethlehem, and Holy Family Hospital counts on you to ensure it remains well staffed and supplied.
As poverty becomes more entrenched, many dreams are shattered. High school students who were planning a college education and a professional career are now offering themselves as day laborers to help their families buy groceries and pay bills. Mothers continue to forgo meals in favor of their children and elderly relatives. They arrive at the Hospital in labor without having eaten for a day or so. The NICU admissions rate has risen by 33% since October 2023. Since 2025, the number of babies staying in the NICU for over 50 days has increased by 250% month over month. Babies are born earlier, smaller and sicker than ever before.
Increasing poverty is a great marriage and family stressor. A family without income is home all day worrying about the future, without work or leisure opportunities. This causes an uptick in marital problems, further eroding life in Bethlehem. To address this, the Foundation launched a partnership with the Catholic Parish of Bethlehem, to alleviate poverty. Your generosity has allowed us to provide grocery, pharmacy and electricity vouchers to over 2,250 individuals each month. Thanks to you, the youth of Bethlehem can continue to dream of the future, as we now support 19 students with scholarships in nursing and midwifery, as well as 7 medical scholarships.
Recently, both Pope Leo and the Latin Patriarch asked for our prayers and our solidarity. The survival of the Christian presence in the Holy Land is at risk now. Israeli settler violence against Christian towns and villages, coupled with increasing restrictions and the devastated economy, has caused many Christians to leave. In the land where Christ was born, the Christian community is at a point of inflection. They need our solidarity and tangible help now while they are still in the Holy Land. While they realize it is their duty to stay in the land that belongs to them, the conditions make it seem urgent to leave. Your donation to our Foundation provides employment, training, healthcare, education and poverty alleviation, making a future in Bethlehem seem more tenable. Through your kindness for the town known as the birthplace of Hope, you are helping hope to be born again.