Rest of Asia

Agence France-Presse
Israel allowed several hundred Palestinian Christians to leave the isolated Hamas-run Gaza Strip to celebrate Christmas on thursday, in the occupied West Bank town of Bethlehem. The military said it issued 300 24-hour permits to Gazan Christians over the age of 35 so they could travel to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity for the midnight mass at the traditional site of Jesus's birth. Many this year decided to remain in the isolated territory because they could not get permits for younger family members, and some were not allowed out despite being over the required age. "I did not get a permit even though I am over 35," Hana Mikhael, 38, said. "And many of my friends decided not to travel because even though they got permits their wives did not, or vice-versa." Israel and Egypt have severely restricted travel to and from the Gaza Strip since the Islamist Hamas movement seized power there in June 2007. Around 2,500 Christians live in Gaza alongside 1.5 million Muslims. Most are Greek Orthodox, with smaller minorities of Catholics and Protestants. Israel allowed several hundred Palestinian Christians to leave the isolated Hamas-run Gaza Strip to celebrate Christmas on thursday, in the occupied West Bank town of Bethlehem. The military said it issued 300 24-hour permits to Gazan Christians over the age of 35 so they could travel to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity for the midnight mass at the traditional site of Jesus's birth. Many this year decided to remain in the isolated territory because they could not get permits for younger family members, and some were not allowed out despite being over the required age. "I did not get a permit even though I am over 35," Hana Mikhael, 38, said. "And many of my friends decided not to travel because even though they got permits their wives did not, or vice-versa." Israel and Egypt have severely restricted travel to and from the Gaza Strip since the Islamist Hamas movement seized power there in June 2007. Around 2,500 Christians live in Gaza alongside 1.5 million Muslims. Most are Greek Orthodox, with smaller minorities of Catholics and Protestants. Israel allowed several hundred Palestinian Christians to leave the isolated Hamas-run Gaza Strip to celebrate Christmas on thursday, in the occupied West Bank town of Bethlehem. The military said it issued 300 24-hour permits to Gazan Christians over the age of 35 so they could travel to Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity for the midnight mass at the traditional site of Jesus's birth. Many this year decided to remain in the isolated territory because they could not get permits for younger family members, and some were not allowed out despite being over the required age. "I did not get a permit even though I am over 35," Hana Mikhael, 38, said. "And many of my friends decided not to travel because even though they got permits their wives did not, or vice-versa." Israel and Egypt have severely restricted travel to and from the Gaza Strip since the Islamist Hamas movement seized power there in June 2007. Around 2,500 Christians live in Gaza alongside 1.5 million Muslims. Most are Greek Orthodox, with smaller minorities of Catholics and Protestants. Gaza City, Israel, December 24, 2009