Bethlehem Mayor Maher Nicola Canawati led the lighting of a 20-metre Christmas tree in Manger Square that drew thousands as the city tried to reclaim its festive mood amid the Gaza war.The lights offered a brief relief while the war has devastated about 2 million Palestinians and pushed the death toll past 70,000 last month, and the fragile ceasefire has seen air strikes and mutual accusations involving Hamas and UN.Hotels were around 70% full for Christmas as visitors partly returned, the family restaurant of John Juka reopened and residents expressed cautious hope, with Diana Babish saying “It is time now, after two years of war,” and a crowd member chanting “Julen borde aldrig stoppas.”