It was a night of warmth and festivity on Tuesday, December 3, in Gaza City as Palestinians gathered for an annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The event was organised by the YMCA Gaza, an organisation that aims to empower Palestinian youth through a number of cultural, economic and sports programmes. This is the second year the event was celebrated following its success in 2018.
The grand tree lighting celebration was accompanied by sparklers, creating a visual treat for the crowd, with many pulling out their phones to record the ceremony. The event also saw the youth entertain the crowd with a spirited Dabka dance, a traditional performance usually held to mark joyous occasions. Making the event merrier was a bagpipe performance by talented Palestinians.
Twinkling lights, snowman decorations and Santa costumes added to the festive feel.
Scroll through the gallery above for heart-warming pictures of how the event unfolded.
