In a significant shift this year, Palestinian Christians encountered severe limitations on their Easter celebrations in Jerusalem, marking a departure from past traditions.
Historically, Israel has provided access for Christians residing in the West Bank to visit Jerusalem during Easter week to commemorate Jesus’s death and resurrection at historic sites.
This year, however, Israeli authorities announced a cap of 6,000 permits for Palestinian Christians intending to visit sacred locations like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, known for being the site of Jesus’s empty tomb.
Despite this announcement, only 4,000 permits were distributed, largely to church leaders, and these permits included a restriction preventing overnight stays in Jerusalem. This limitation made it challenging for many permit holders to participate in services due to lengthy travel and the necessity of passing through Israeli checkpoints.
The tightened restrictions by Israel are a response to the attacks by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 Israeli civilians.
Reports from Al Jazeera indicate that numerous Palestinians attempting to enter Jerusalem’s Old City have faced detainment at checkpoints. In previous years, there have been instances of Israeli police allegedly using force against Palestinian Christians and international pilgrims as they sought to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Following the 2023 Hamas attacks, Israeli actions have sparked controversy. The subsequent conflict has led to the deaths of more than 50,000 people, predominantly in Gaza, and has devastated much of the Gaza Strip.
While American Christians continue to support Israel robustly, attitudes elsewhere differ. Recent surveys in Britain and Ireland reveal that younger Christians in these regions exhibit lower levels of support for Israel. In Britain, only 19% of young Christians support Israel, with about a third expressing support for the Palestinians. In Ireland, the figures show 11% support for Israel and 45% support for Palestine.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
