Three Palestinians have been arrested on charges of setting fire to a Christmas tree and damaging part of a nativity scene at a Catholic church in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Jenin, Palestinian Authority police said.
The attack happened around 3 a.m., according to the church.
Palestinian Authority police said on Wednesday that the three were taken into custody after reviewing surveillance footage targeting Jenin’s Holy Savior Church. Tools believed to have been used in the attack were seized from the suspects.
Police condemned the apparent attempt to stoke sectarian and religious tensions in the West Bank.
CHRISTMAS RETURNS TO THE CITIES OF THE HOLY LAND WHILE BETHLEHEM’S CHRISTIAN POPULATION DRINKS, NAZARETH REMAINS STRONG
Palestinian parishioners check a newly installed Christmas tree after the previous one was destroyed at the Latin Church of the Holy Savior in the West Bank city of Jenin on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. (AP)
The church shared photos on social media showing the skeleton of a synthetic Christmas tree with its green plastic branches removed, and red and gold ornaments scattered across a courtyard.
The torched tree was quickly cleared away by the church, which erected a new one the day after the attack, in time for Christmas mass.
The church held a special ceremony in the presence of local Muslim and Christian leaders and politicians. Rev. Amer Jubran, the church’s local priest, said the arson was an isolated incident and stressed the city’s unity.
“This occasion reaffirmed that attempts to harm religious symbols will never diminish the spirit of the city nor the faith of its residents,” the Holy Savior Church said in a statement.
Palestinian Authority police said the trio were taken into custody after reviewing surveillance footage. (Getty Images)
The small Christian community in the West Bank is facing increasing threats of extremism from several sources, including both Israeli settlers and Palestinian extremists, prompting them to flee the region.
Christians make up between 1 and 2% of the West Bank’s approximately 3 million residents, and the vast majority of the community is Muslim. Throughout the Middle East, the Christian population has declined as people have fled the conflict.
In Israel, some church authorities and monitoring groups have documented a recent increase in anti-Christian sentiment and intimidation, including in the Old City of Jerusalem. Extremist Israeli settlers have also reportedly destroyed and burned areas around churches and Christian villages.
POPE LION
Police condemned the apparent attempt to stoke sectarian and religious tensions in the West Bank. (Getty Images)
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The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza set off a wave of violence in the West Bank, with the Israeli army’s offensive targeting terrorists, killing hundreds of Palestinians and forcing tens of thousands to flee. 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.
