Pro-Palestinian protestors scale 83-tall Christmas tree in San Francisco’s  Union Square to demand ‘no Christmas as usual’

A pro-Palestinian protester climbed a 75-foot Christmas tree with a “Free Palestine” sign in San Francisco's Union Square during protests in the shopping district that ended with some being handcuffed.

The identity of the tree climber was not revealed, but video showed the man climbing the huge fir around 2pm on Saturday as onlookers cheered and clapped as they demanded a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

Hundreds gathered in the bustling shopping area calling for 'no Christmas as usual'.

San Francisco police handcuffed a number of protesters and arrested four people for a variety of crimes, including assault and vandalism causing property damage. KRON4 news reported.

A Palestinian flag was also placed prominently in the center of the Christmas tree, which was decorated with ornaments and lights.

San Francisco police arrested several protests in Union Square this weekend

Some of the demonstrators were women with their children. One of the signs held by a young girl (pictured) with a child's drawing read: 'Fund Childcare Not Wars'

The city's Department of Emergency Management has posted an advisory on their social media warning the public to avoid the area. NBC Bay Area News reported.

There were several groups participating in the march that started on Market Street and moved to Union Square before heading to other parts of the crime-ridden downtown area.

Many demonstrators called for the release of those arrested.

It is unclear what the protesters did that led to their arrest.

The protest was described as mostly peaceful and many held up signs reading: “No US military aid,” … “No Christmas as usual in a genocide” and “The word stands with Palestine.”

Some demonstrators were mothers with their young children.

One photo shows a young girl holding up a cardboard sign with a drawing on it that reads “Fund Childcare Not Wars.”

Saturday's protest, which drew hundreds of people, was described as mostly peaceful

The protest began Saturday afternoon with people marching through Market Street and downtown San Francisco

Protester Rami Abel Karim, who was at the rally on Saturday, told NBC that in light of the recent attacks in Gaza, there would be no holiday celebrations this year.

“Palestinian Christians did not feel it right to celebrate this Christmas while our community and Palestine are being bombed and under military occupation,” he said.

Officials said the situation was resolved just before 6 p.m.

The names of those arrested have not been released.

The protests in San Francisco followed similar rallies in New York City on Saturday.

Large crowds were seen marching across Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, while another protest also hit the largest shopping center on Long Island, chanting, “The people are united.”

Large cutouts of President Biden and Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, covered in blood, were led past the shops on Fifth Avenue as the sidewalks were packed with families bearing Christmas gifts.

Some activists appeared to be members of the groups Mothers for Justice in Palestine and the Long Island chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, which this week shared on Instagram plans to “expose the companies that profit of their links with an apartheid state.'

According to a purported press release about the demonstrations, the gathering is intended to “encourage holiday shoppers to participate in targeted boycotts this holiday season.”

Crowds of people were seen packing the malls and unfurling large banners with the names of organizations seen as collaborating with Israel.