If you heard the sound of sleighbells ringing outside the borders of Gaza at Christmas, it did not mean that Father Christmas was about to enter with gifts. Instead the sound was generated by Santa and his reindeer trembling with fear and refusing to leave the safety of Israel in order to enter Gaza.

Well, you can understand the risks involved. As it flew over, the sleigh might be hit by one of the barrage of missiles being constantly fired by the Palestinians. If he landed, he might be accused of being a Zionist agent and crusader, and savagely butchered, after being forced to make a short video in which he pleaded for his life. Or he might be kidnapped, with a demand that all the toys in his kingdom be handed over to Hamas - especially the toy guns.

Papa Noel is too afraid to come to the Gaza Strip, the first graders of Holy Family Parish school told their teachers as they accepted the traditional holiday chocolates before Christmas.

And - miracle of miracles - Israel was not blamed for the terror of Santa.

But just days before Christmas, three children were killed in the infighting between Hamas and Fatah forces which is dragging the Gaza Strip even further into a spiral of violence and lawlessness. The killings terrified the students, leading them to believe the Gaza Strip was too scary for Santa Claus to visit, the priest said.

The past couple of years "have been difficult, but this one is more difficult because of the internal situation. In the past years we have had the same problems of no work, no money, but now added to this suffering is the fear not coming from Israel but because of fear from our people," Msgr. Musallam told CNS.

The Palestinian terrorists even terrorise Santa Claus.