‘Israel’ prevents thousands of Palestinian Christians from reaching Jerusalem’s Sepulcher Church
Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- Israeli occupation forces prevented, earlier on Saturday, thousands of Palestinian Christians from entering the old city of Jerusalem to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to mark the Easter Fire ceremony.
Earlier today, the Israeli forces shut down all the gates leading to the old city of Jerusalem.
They forced the Christians who wanted to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to go through only one gate while being searched and restricted by the forces at this gate.
Israeli occupation forces restrict access of Christian worshipers in their way to attend the Easter's Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in occupied Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/wnVFtJvfvz
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 23, 2022
Despite Israeli restrictions, thousands of Christians attended the Easter's Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in occupied #Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/hhiUoJ3Ru6
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 23, 2022
Israeli occupation forces deny access of a priest into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the old city of occupied #Jerusalem during the Holy Fire ceremony. pic.twitter.com/UbG1trjIyj
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 23, 2022
Israeli occupation forces block access of Christians worshipers to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in occupied Jerusalem via the New Gate in the old city. pic.twitter.com/Y3B9xIDxua
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 23, 2022
The forces also assaulted a number of Christian worshipers on their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Israeli occupation forces assault Christian worshipers in their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the old city of occupied #Jerusalem to attend the Holy Fire ceremony. pic.twitter.com/olfPrCHcPT
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) April 23, 2022
This year, Israeli occupation police have capped the number of Christian pilgrims allowed to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the Easter Fire ceremony, but an early decision to restrict worshipers’ entry into occupied Jerusalem’s Old City was overturned in a court ruling.
The Israeli occupation police had initially decided to allow only 1,500 people to enter the Old City through checkpoints to go to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and participate in the Easter Fire ceremony.
It said it would bar any more pilgrims from entering the Old City on the pretext of safety and would close checkpoints set up at its gates.
However, Palestinian lawyer Elias Khoury has stated that several institutions representing the Christian community challenged the Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling on Wednesday and filed a petition challenging the move.
“We managed to convince the court to allow 4,000 people on Saturday. But most importantly, we agreed that the Old City of Jerusalem and the Christian quarter would remain open, even after the number of pilgrims reach capacity, and pilgrims would still be able to visit the city,” Khoury told Middle East Eye.
Accordingly, Israeli police will cap the number of pilgrims entering the ancient Church of the Holy Sepulchre to 1,800 people and those allowed in the courtyard to 300. On the roofs and around the church around 1,000 and 900 people will be allowed, respectively.
