Israel Arrests ‘Santa Claus’ during Raid on Christmas Celebrations in Haifa

December 26, 2025 News
Israeli police disrupted Christmas celebrations in the town of Haifa and arrested a man dressed as Santa Claus. (Photo: video grab)

By Palestine Chronicle Staff  

Palestinian Christians celebrated Christmas across the occupied West Bank and Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing occupation.

Israeli police disrupted Christmas celebrations in the town of Haifa and arrested at least three Palestinians, including a man dressed as Santa Claus.

According to the Mossawa Center, a civil rights organization, police assaulted three young men at the entrance to the Wadi Al-Nasnas District during Christmas celebrations and arrested them, including a DJ and a street vendor. They also reportedly confiscated equipment from the event earlier this week.

In video footage shared online, police can be seen trying to arrest the man dressed as Santa as well as push another man to the ground before handcuffing him.

Israeli police reportedly claimed that the man in the Santa outfit resisted arrest.

Palestinian Christians celebrated Christmas across the occupied West Bank and Gaza amid ongoing restrictions imposed by Israeli occupation authorities.

In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, celebrations took place for the first time since Israel’s genocidal two-year assault on Gaza, with marching bands playing bagpipes through the streets of the town, according to Al Mayadeen, while worshippers also attended Christmas Mass at the Church of the Nativity.

‘Message of Love,’ Despite Difficulties

Issa Thaljieh, pastor of the Greek Orthodox community in Bethlehem, described the city as “sad and gloomy” this year due to Israel’s ongoing occupation, the Anadolu news agency reported.

“Our message to the world, despite the pain, difficulties, and war, is that the Palestinian Christ raises prayers during Christmas for peace, love, and mercy to prevail. From Bethlehem, the message of love and peace spreads to the world,” Thaljieh told Anadolu.

He urged Palestinian Christians to remain steadfast on their sacred land.

“This piece of land is unlike any other; it is a holy place, and the eyes of the world are focused on it, especially during these days,” he said.

“Our brothers and fellow citizens in Gaza are living under destruction, death, cold, and thirst, enduring immense suffering to survive. Our message to them is one of patience, peace, and hope,” Thaljieh said.

“We pray for them during these days, hoping that better days are ahead and that they can join us here in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas together.”

Bethlehem Facing ‘Economic Downturn’

Meanwhile, Jeries Qumsieh, spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism, called this year’s Christmas celebrations somber and gloomy, with celebrations limited to religious rituals, the Anadolu news agency reported.

“This year, there are no tourist delegations or pilgrims due to the devastating war Israel is waging against our people,” Qumsieh said.

“Bethlehem is suffering from a significant economic downturn, with hotel bookings at only 3 percent this year,” he added.

Qumsieh estimated Bethlehem’s daily losses due to the Israeli war at $1 to $1.5 million, the report stated.

Gaza’s ‘Message of Resilience’

In Gaza, where close to 71,000 Palestinians have been killed, a small Christian community held its first Christmas celebrations since a fragile ceasefire began on October 10, the report stated. Christmas trees added bursts of color amid the rubble of destroyed buildings, the report said.

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, said on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip carries “a message of resilience and hope” despite widespread destruction caused by Israel’s two-year genocidal assault on the enclave, Anadolu reported.

Gaza Carries ‘Message of Resilience’ over Devastation – Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

“Our hearts today are with Gaza, where there is total destruction,” Pizzaballa said in comments upon arrival in the West Bank city of Bethlehem to lead a midnight Christmas Mass.

“Yet despite everything, its people still have a passion for life, a will to rejoice and a refusal to surrender,” he added.

Starting on October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, launched a genocidal war against the people of Gaza. This campaign has so far resulted in the deaths of close to 71,000 Palestinians, with more than 170,000 wounded. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, and the destruction of infrastructure is unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.

(PC, Anadolu, Al Mayadeen)

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1 Comment

  1. Was it a coincidence that Santa was arrested in Israel and Mainland China? The pieces are falling into place.

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