The occupation prevents Christians from the West Bank and Gaza from reaching Jerusalem to participate in Easter celebrations
The Israeli occupation authorities have prevented Christians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip from reaching Jerusalem and participating in Easter prayers and rituals, continuing restrictions on freedom of worship and movement in the Palestinian territories.
Hundreds of Christians participated today in the Palm Sunday procession, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. The procession departed from the Bethphage Monastery in the town of Al-Tur, east of Jerusalem, and proceeded to the Church of St. Anne inside the Old City. The procession proceeded through the streets of Al-Tur, passing through the Gethsemane Church and Santa Mariam Street, chanting hymns and prayers, and carrying palm fronds and olive branches.
For the second year in a row, the procession was limited to religious rituals, without any extensive festive displays, due to the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing for 17 months.
This morning, the Palm Sunday Mass and prayers were held at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The majority of participants in the Palm Sunday procession and prayers at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre were residents of Jerusalem and the Palestinian 1948 territories, in addition to pilgrims from several countries. Meanwhile, the number of Christians coming from the West Bank was limited due to Israeli restrictions on permits.
In a statement, priest Ibrahim Faltas, the Deputy Superior General of the Custody of the Holy Land, explained that the occupation authorities issued only 6,000 permits to Christians from the West Bank governorates, despite their estimated number of 50,000. This means that the majority are denied their right to access Jerusalem and perform their religious rituals on the holiest Christian occasions.
Faltas pointed out that the occupation authorities continue to prevent Christians from the Gaza Strip from reaching Jerusalem, whether to participate in prayers or any other religious occasion, in a flagrant violation of freedom of worship.
Several churches announced that they will continue to offer their prayers for peace, justice, and freedom for all people of the Holy Land, calling for respect for freedom of access to places of worship without discrimination.
In addition, Israeli police forces were deployed heavily along the route of the march, setting up checkpoints and closing several main roads in the city, obstructing the movement of Jerusalemites and restricting the access of worshippers.
Today, Christian churches following both the Eastern and Western calendars celebrated Palm Sunday, commemorating the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, marking the beginning of Holy Week, which precedes Easter.
