3 Palestinians accused of burning Christmas tree at Catholic church in West Bank
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Palestinian Authority Police announced the arrest of three Palestinians for allegedly setting fire to a Christmas tree and damaging part of the Nativity scene in a Catholic church in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Jenin.
The attack took place around 3 a.m. Monday morning, according to the church.
Palestinian Authority Police said on Wednesday that three people were detained after reviewing security cameras targeting the Church of the Holy Savior in Jenin. Tools thought to have been used in the attack were seized from the suspects.
Police condemned the apparent attempt to incite sectarian and religious tensions in the West Bank.
AS BETHLEHEM’S CHRISTIAN POPULATION DECREASES, WHILE NAZARET REMAINS STRONG, CHRISTMAS IS RETURNING TO THE HOLY BLACK CITIES
Palestinian parishioners check the newly installed Christmas tree after the previous one was demolished at the Latin Church of the Holy Redeemer in the West Bank town of Jenin on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. (AP)
The church shared photos on social media showing the skeleton of a synthetic Christmas tree stripped of green plastic branches and red and gold ornaments scattered throughout the courtyard.
The burned tree was quickly cleaned up by the church, which erected a new one in time for Christmas Mass the day after the attack.
The church held a special ceremony with the participation of local Muslim and Christian leaders and politicians. The local priest of the church, Pastor Amer Jubran, emphasized the unity of the city, saying the arson was an isolated incident.
“This incident reaffirmed that attempts to damage religious symbols will never diminish the spirit of the city or the faith of its people,” the Church of the Holy Redeemer said in a statement. he said.
Palestinian Authority Police said the trio were detained after reviewing security cameras. (Getty Images)
The small Christian community in the West Bank faces increasing threats of extremism from various parties, including both Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists, causing them to flee the area.
Christians make up 1-2% of the West Bank’s approximately 3 million residents, and the majority of the community is Muslim. Throughout the Middle East, Christian populations are declining as people flee conflict.
In Israel, some church officials and monitoring groups have documented a recent increase in anti-Christian sentiment and harassment, including in Jerusalem’s Old City. Extremist Israeli settlers also reportedly destroyed and set fire to areas around churches and Christian villages.
POPE XIV LEO MADE HIS FIRST CHRISTMAS CALL, CALLING FOR AN END TO VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINE WAR
Police condemned the apparent attempt to incite sectarian and religious tensions in the West Bank. (Getty Images)
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The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza set off an increase in violence in the West Bank, with hundreds of Palestinians killed and tens of thousands displaced in an Israeli army offensive targeting terrorists. Terrorists have also attacked and killed Israelis in Israel and the West Bank.
The conflict coincided with an increase in violence by Israeli settlers and Palestinian attacks on Israelis.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
