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

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Three Palestinians had been arrested on accusations of lighting a Christmas tree on fireplace and damaging a part of a Nativity scene at a Catholic church within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Jenin, the Palestinian Authority Police introduced.

The assault occurred at round 3 a.m. Monday, in line with the church.

Palestinian Authority Police mentioned Wednesday the three had been taken into custody after a evaluation of surveillance footage focusing on the Holy Redeemer Church of Jenin. Instruments believed to have been used within the assault had been seized from the suspects.

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

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Palestinian parishioners verify a not too long ago put in Christmas tree after the earlier one was destroyed on the Holy Redeemer Latin Church within the West Financial institution city of Jenin Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP)

The church shared pictures on social media exhibiting the skeleton of an artificial Christmas tree that had been cleared of the inexperienced plastic branches, and pink and gold ornaments had been scattered throughout a courtyard.

The torched tree was shortly cleaned up by the church, which erected a brand new one a day after the assault in time for Christmas Mass.

The church held a particular ceremony with native Muslim and Christian leaders and politicians in attendance. Rev. Amer Jubran, the native priest on the church, mentioned the arson was an remoted incident and emphasised the town’s unity.

"This event reaffirmed that makes an attempt to hurt non secular symbols won't ever diminish the spirit of the town nor the religion of its folks," the Holy Redeemer Church mentioned in a press release.

Palestinian Authority Police mentioned the trio was taken into custody after a evaluation of surveillance footage. (Getty Pictures)

The small Christian group within the West Financial institution is dealing with rising threats of extremism from varied sides, together with each Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists, prompting them to flee the area.

Christians make up between 1-2% of the West Financial institution’s roughly 3 million residents, and the overwhelming majority of the group is Muslim. Throughout the whole Center East, the Christian inhabitants has been declining as folks have fled battle.

In Israel, some church authorities and monitoring teams have documented a latest uptick in anti-Christian sentiment and harassment, together with in Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis. Extremist Israeli settlers have additionally reportedly vandalized and torched areas round church buildings and Christian villages.

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

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The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza kicked off a surge of violence within the West Financial institution, with the Israeli navy's offensive focusing on terrorists killing lots of of Palestinians and displacing tens of 1000's. Terrorists have additionally attacked and killed Israelis in Israel and the West Financial institution.