Early this month, the main square and streets around Bethlehem¡¯s Church of the Nativity were bustling with tourists.

Now they are empty after a devastating attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7.

¡°Business is at a standstill since the war started,¡± said Essa Abu Dawoud, a tour guide in the Palestinian city. ¡°The roads were cut off, no one is coming.¡±