Israeli police have arrested a Palestinian man dressed as Santa Claus during a raid on a Christmas celebration in the northern city of Haifa, according to a civil rights organisation.
On Sunday, officers moved to shut down the event, seizing sound equipment and detaining three individuals, among them a man dressed as Santa Claus, a DJ, and a street vendor, while video footage circulating online captures police pushing the men to the ground and handcuffing them as onlookers watched.
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Palestinians marked Christmas across the occupied West Bank and Gaza amid ongoing restrictions imposed by Israeli forces on daily life.
In Beit Lahm, celebrations took place for the first time since the outbreak of war on Gaza, with marching bands playing bagpipes through the streets of Jesus’ birthplace. Worshippers attended Mass at the Church of the Nativity, while children sang carols as the city lit up with festive decorations.
In Gaza, where over 70,000 people have been killed and much of the infrastructure destroyed by Israeli bombings, a small Christian community held its first Christmas celebrations since a fragile ceasefire began, with Christmas trees and glitter adding bursts of colour amid the rubble scattered across the Strip.
'Israel' detains Santa Claus amid raid on Haifa Christmas celebration | Al Mayadeen English |
