Israeli police arrested a Palestinian man dressed as Santa Claus during a raid on a Christmas celebration in Haifa, prompting criticism from civil rights groups and highlighting the pressures faced by Palestinians during the festive season.

According to the Mossawa Center, police shut down a Christmas party on Sunday, confiscated sound equipment and detained three people, including the man in a Santa costume, a DJ and a street vendor. Videos circulating online show officers pushing the men to the ground and handcuffing them as onlookers watched.

Israeli police claimed the man dressed as Santa Claus resisted arrest and assaulted an officer. The Mossawa Center disputed this account, alleging excessive force and stating that the raid on the music hall was carried out without proper legal authority.

Christmas under restrictions across Palestinian areas

The arrests came as Palestinians marked Christmas across the occupied West Bank and Gaza amid continued restrictions imposed by Israeli forces. Celebrations were held in Bethlehem for the first time since the war in Gaza began, with scout bands marching through the streets and worshippers attending Mass at the Church of the Nativity.

In Gaza Strip, a small Christian community observed Christmas following a fragile ceasefire. Trees and decorations added brief colour to neighbourhoods devastated by months of bombardment, which have killed more than 70,000 people and destroyed much of the territory’s infrastructure.

Continuing violence during the holiday

Despite the holiday, violence continued. Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that Israeli settlers uprooted olive trees in Turmus Ayya near Ramallah, while Israeli forces raided homes and confiscated vehicles in areas around Hebron.

Rights groups say attacks on Palestinian Christians have risen, with dozens of incidents targeting churches and individuals documented earlier this year.

Pope condemns Gaza humanitarian crisis

In his first Christmas address, Pope Leo condemned the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, drawing parallels with the biblical account of Jesus’s birth. He urged the world not to ignore “defenceless populations” suffering amid war, cold and displacement.