3 Palestinians accused of burning Christmas tree at Catholic church in West Bank

Three Palestinians have been arrested on fees of setting fireplace to a Christmas tree and damaging a part of a nativity scene at a Catholic church within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin, Palestinian Authority police mentioned.

The assault occurred round 3 a.m., in response to the church.

Palestinian Authority police mentioned on Wednesday that the three have been taken into custody after reviewing surveillance footage concentrating on Jenin’s Holy Savior Church. Instruments believed to have been used within the assault have been seized from the suspects.

Police condemned the obvious try and stoke sectarian and non secular tensions within the West Financial institution.

CHRISTMAS RETURNS TO THE CITIES OF THE HOLY LAND WHILE BETHLEHEM’S CHRISTIAN POPULATION DRINKS, NAZARETH REMAINS STRONG

Palestinian parishioners verify a newly put in Christmas tree after the earlier one was destroyed on the Latin Church of the Holy Savior within the West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. (AP)

The church shared photographs on social media displaying the skeleton of an artificial Christmas tree with its inexperienced plastic branches eliminated, and purple and gold ornaments scattered throughout a courtyard.

The torched tree was shortly cleared away by the church, which erected a brand new one the day after the assault, in time for Christmas mass.

The church held a particular ceremony within the presence of native Muslim and Christian leaders and politicians. Rev. Amer Jubran, the church’s native priest, mentioned the arson was an remoted incident and harassed town’s unity.

“This event reaffirmed that makes an attempt to hurt non secular symbols won’t ever diminish the spirit of town nor the religion of its residents,” the Holy Savior Church mentioned in a press release.

Palestinian Authority police mentioned the trio have been taken into custody after reviewing surveillance footage. (Getty Pictures)

The small Christian neighborhood within the West Financial institution is going through growing threats of extremism from a number of sources, together with each Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists, prompting them to flee the area.

Christians make up between 1 and a pair of% of the West Financial institution’s roughly 3 million residents, and the overwhelming majority of the neighborhood is Muslim. All through the Center East, the Christian inhabitants has declined as folks have fled the battle.

In Israel, some church authorities and monitoring teams have documented a current improve in anti-Christian sentiment and intimidation, together with within the Outdated Metropolis of Jerusalem. Extremist Israeli settlers have additionally reportedly destroyed and burned areas round church buildings and Christian villages.

POPE LION

Police condemned the obvious try and stoke sectarian and non secular tensions within the West Financial institution. (Getty Pictures)

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The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza set off a wave of violence within the West Financial institution, with the Israeli military’s offensive concentrating on terrorists, killing lots of of Palestinians and forcing tens of 1000’s to flee. Terrorists have additionally attacked and killed Israelis in Israel and the West Financial institution.

The battle coincided with a rise in violence by Israeli settlers and Palestinian assaults on Israelis.

The Related Press contributed to this report.