The church leaders said Trump's plan endorses "almost all" the demands and the political agenda of the Israelis while ignoring the demands of the Palestinian side.

Thousands of Palestinians protested in Gaza City ahead of the announcement, burning pictures of Trump and Netanyahu and raising a banner reading “Palestine is not for sale.”

The Gaza Strip has been under an air, land and sea blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt in 2007.

Visitors converged on the town's large Christmas tree in Manger Square, near the spot believed to mark Jesus' birthplace.

It had been unclear whether Israel would grant permits to members of Gaza's tiny Christian community to leave the Hamas-ruled coastal territory.

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa said he wanted to bring some holiday cheer to Gaza's Christians because it remains unclear whether they will be able to travel to Bethlehem in the West Bank for the holiday.