Thousands of Christian Palestinians and tourists have celebrated mass in Bethlehem, the town that is considered the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

The congregational held in the 1,500-year-old Church of the Nativity, was attended by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal used the traditional Midnight Mass to welcome in Christmas and urge peace between Israel and Palestine.

Al Jazeera's Rory Challands reports from Bethlehem.