TEL AVIV: Jerusalem's Santa Claus tried to bring some Christmas spirit to a subdued Holy Land on Monday, with a message of peace, as a nearly two-month war between Israel and Hamas bears on.
Issa Kassissieh, dressed as Santa Claus, rode a camel through the olive groves overlooking the Old City, shouting "Hope, love and peace, from Jerusalem".
Christmas celebrations in the region are expected to be subdued this year, under the shadow of the war in Gaza which seen more than 15,500 people killed, medical authorities in the enclave say.
Israel launched its assault to annihilate Gaza's ruling Hamas in retaliation for an Oct 7 cross-border attack by its gunmen, who killed 1,200 people and seized 240 hostages according to Israeli tallies. — Reuters