Occupied Jerusalem (QNN)- Israeli police assaulted Christian worshippers in occupied Jerusalem during Holy Saturday celebrations, as thousands gathered to receive the Holy Fire at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The attacks included beatings, pushing, and arrests, raising alarm over Israeli restrictions on religious freedom and the targeting of Christian presence in the occupied city.
https://x.com/palestine_un/status/2043044352901947797?s=46
Israeli police forces used force against worshippers and participants celebrating the Holy Fire ceremony. Officers pushed attendees, beat several individuals, and detained a number of participants in harsh and repressive scenes.
At the same time, an Israeli police commander stormed the Church of the Holy Sepulchre while churches marked Holy Saturday, one of the most sacred days in the Christian calendar.
Israeli authorities transformed the Old City of Jerusalem into a heavily militarized area. Police deployed barriers and iron barricades across key routes leading to the church. Forces set up checkpoints, inspected IDs, and blocked many Christian Palestinians from entering.
Security measures tightened across the city as Christians awaited the appearance of the Holy Fire, which tradition says emerges from the Holy Tomb inside the church.
These restrictions came one day after the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in occupied Jerusalem called on Christians to attend Holy Saturday rituals following a 40-day closure of the church. Israeli authorities had shut down the site amid the US-Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28.
Theophilos III led prayers inside the Holy Sepulchre, joined by bishops, priests, and a limited number of worshippers who managed to pass through the checkpoints.
After the Holy Fire emerges, churches usually transport it to cities across the West Bank, including Ramallah, Bethlehem, Jericho, Nablus, and Jenin, as well as to Palestinian villages inside the 1948-occupied territories and abroad, where believers light candles in celebration.
Holy Saturday marks the final day before Easter, one of the most important Christian holidays, symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Israeli police issue special wristbands each year and distribute them through church authorities and foreign consulates, mainly to non-Palestinians. However, many Palestinian Christians reject this system، insisting that access to their church is a fundamental right, not a permit granted by Israeli authorities.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the assault on Christian worshippers as a direct attack on freedom of worship. It said blocking access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre violates international law and the long-standing status quo.
The ministry warned that these actions reflect a systematic policy targeting the Palestinian Christian presence in occupied Jerusalem.
Ramzi Khoury, member of the PLO Executive Committee and head of the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, strongly condemned the Israeli attacks.
He said Israeli forces directly targeted worshippers during religious rituals, violating international laws that guarantee freedom of worship and safe access to holy sites. He added that the forces deliberately intimidated the crowds to impose a coercive reality and prevent native Palestinians from practicing their religious rituals.
Khoury also said the restrictions extended to scout groups, which play a central role in organizing processions, stating that Israeli authorities try to erase the spiritual and national character of the celebration.
He stressed that thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank could not reach occupied Jerusalem due to military checkpoints and restrictions, calling it a clear violation of international law.
The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Israeli police actions and rejected the illegal and restrictive measures against native Christians.
In a statement, the ministry called for an immediate halt to all measures that hinder Muslims and Christians from practicing their religious rituals. It also urged respect for the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem’s holy sites, stressing that Israel has no sovereignty over the city.
Jordan called on the international community to take legal and moral responsibility and pressure Israel to stop violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites.
Israeli forces imposed tight military measures across occupied Jerusalem, especially around Damascus Gate and the Old City, during Holy Saturday.
Authorities had closed both the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Al-Aqsa Mosque for 40 days starting February 28, citing emergency measures linked to the war with Iran. They reopened the sites days earlier following a temporary ceasefire.
In recent days, Israeli authorities also prevented Palm Sunday services inside the church, a move that drew widespread international criticism.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has also restricted Palestinians from the West Bank from entering Jerusalem, further limiting access to holy sites.
