Israeli police arrested a Palestinian man dressed as Santa Claus during a raid on a Christmas celebration in Haifa.
Police forcibly dispersed festivities held by Palestinian Christian citizens of Israel in the Wadi Nisnas neighbourhood on Sunday and confiscated equipment from the event.
According to the Mossawa Centre, an organisation advocating for the rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel, police used excessive force while detaining the man dressed as Santa Claus, as well as a DJ and a street vendor.
All three were released on Monday but were expected to be summoned to court again.
Mossawa said police also raided a music institute without legal authorisation.
Footage shared online showed Israeli police officers dragging the man dressed as Santa Claus from the scene.
Other videos appeared to show police interrupting a traditional dabke dance that was being performed in the street.
Israeli police said they were responding to “unusual noise and a disturbance of public order”.
Produced by: Middle East Eye
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
