‘Israel’ denies Gazan Christians permits to celebrate Christmas

Gaza Strip (QNN)- Israeli occupation authorities have rejected permits of at least 200 Christians in the Gaza Strip to travel to Jerusalem and Bethlehem to take part in Christmas celebrations.

Kamel Ayad, the director of public relations for the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza, said the applications of 260 Gazan Christians were rejected by Israeli occupation authorities who cited “security concerns.”

Ayad said every year a list of Christians wishing to obtain a permit to travel to the West Bank city of Bethlehem during the Christmas season is submitted to Israeli occupation authorities.

He noted that ‘Israel’ has never granted permits for all Christians wishing to leave Gaza.

In most cases, he added, the permits are issued at random, including granting permission to some members of one family and denying it to others. In some cases, permits are given to children but not their parents, or vice versa.

“It is our right as Christians to witness Christmas celebrations in the birthplace of Christ in the city of Bethlehem, just as it is available to all Christians of the world to travel to,” Ayad told Middle East Eye.

“We feel very sorry that not all Christians were granted the necessary permits.”

A source in the Palestinian Civil Affairs Authority, the body responsible for communicating with the Israeli side and obtaining permits, said it had submitted applications for about 900 Christians this year, but only received approval for 650.

Annually, tens of thousands of people from across the world travel to Bethlehem and Jerusalem, where Christianity’s most sacred sites are located, to celebrate Christmas.

Approximately 1,600 Palestinian Christians live in the Gaza Strip, out of a total population of about two million, who celebrate Christmas on both December 25, for the Latin Church, and January 7, for the Orthodox Church.

While ‘Israel’ officially retreated from Gaza in 2005, it has imposed a crippling siege on the Strip, controlling many aspects of life there, including movement of people and goods.

Palestinians there can travel in and out in one of two ways: through the Rafah Crossing with Egypt, or the Erez Crossing with ‘Israel’.