Footage shows the town of Bethlehem covered in snow on Thursday afternoon as blizzards hut during the current cold winter spell.

Roads were blocked and schools closed but locals went outside to enjoy the winter weather - hurling snow balls at each other and building snow men.

In Jerusalem, locals were also seen waving the Palestinian flag while the snow fell over the Damascus Gate. Schools were closed and several roads were shut down, cutting the city off from the rest of the country.

Officials said that 250 snow plows deployed and nearly 150 tons of salt spread over roads as staff worked through the night.

Jerusalem was last hit by a heavy snowstorm in 2013. Snow fell for three days causing power outages that left tens of thousands cut off from electricity and heating.