Near the birthplace of Jesus Christ, Palestinians on Tuesday prepared for upcoming holiday festivities, unveiling a large Christmas tree for the first time in four years.

The city of Bethlehem, home to thousands of Christians, had foregone its annual celebrations over the past four years due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Gaza.

Near the Church of the Nativity, police officers erected crowd-control barriers as workers wrapped the tree with ornaments.

The city has not held its traditional Christmas celebrations in years due to the COVID pandemic and war in Gaza.

Officials hope reviving celebrations will boost the local economy, which relies heavily on tourists and pilgrims filling hotels and restaurants and buying handicrafts.

Before the war in Gaza, Bethlehem used to host thousands of foreign tourists and pilgrims who come to visit the city's holy sites including the Church of the Nativity, built at the exact site where many believe Jesus was born.

Throughout the occupied West Bank, the economy has declined during the war due factors including regional insecurity and heightened restrictions on movement and access.

Deputy Mayor Lucy Talgieh said the city hoped to rekindle a sense of hope among Palestinians, though the atmosphere remained subdued because of the ongoing violence in Gaza.

AP Video: Imad Isseid