Christians and Muslims celebrate Church of the Nativity's tree lighting

Christians and Muslims turned out in their thousands to attend the lighting of the giant Christmas tree outside the Church of the Nativity in the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

Hawzah News Agency (Occupied Territories of Palestine) - Dignitaries also attended the popular event that took place in the biblical city of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Fr Francesco Patton, a top official with the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, were present at Saturday's ceremony.

He said Palestinians were resisting Israeli plans "to uproot us and strip us from our civilisation and history".

Earlier on Saturday, Fr Patton greeted clergy and led a service at the Nativity Church.