Ramallah - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered all celebrations for the New Year and for next week's Greek Orthodox Christmas Day in Bethlehem cancelled Tuesday.

The celebrations were called off as a result of a massive Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip that had left over 380 Palestinians dead and more than 1,800 wounded.

A statement issued by Abbas' office said his Fatah movement had also cancelled celebrations marking 44 years since its inception. Fatah celebrates its creation every January 1.

Restaurant owners in the West Bank city's of Bethlehem and Ramallah have also announced the cancellation of all New Year parties planned for Wednesday night. In a statement published in the local Arabic newspapers, owners of Bethlehem restaurants said they decided to cancel all parties "due to the current conditions."

The city of Bethlehem has turned off the Christmas tree in Manger Square and all decorative lights in the city to protest the Israeli airstrikes. It has called of Christmas celebrations planned for the Greek Orthodox community, which celebrates the birth of Jesus on January 7.

Meanwhile, appalled by the timing of the Israeli attack, three Christian patriarchs and 10 bishops based in Jerusalem denounced in a statement the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza.

"We express concern, sorrow and shock at the military acts going on now in Gaza and the bloodshed and destruction they are causing while the Christian world is celebrating Christmas and the birth of the prince of love and peace," said the statement.

They condemned the military activities and "all forms of violence and killing, regardless of who is doing it."

It said, "the continuation of bloodshed and violence does not beget peace and justice, rather more hatred and unending conflict between the two people."

The Christian leaders called for a peaceful and non-violent solution for the differences and urged the international community to intervene to end to the bloodshed. (dpa)