TEL AVIV — On Sunday, the Israeli occupation
authorities prevented Christian citizens from the occupied West Bank from
accessing the occupied city of Jerusalem to participate in the Palm Sunday
celebrations.
اضافة اعلان
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) imposed strict
military measures at checkpoints surrounding Jerusalem and in the vicinity of
the Old City. Israeli authorities require Palestinians, both Muslims and
Christians, to obtain special permits to cross their military checkpoints
surrounding the holy city and access places of worship, especially the Al-Aqsa
Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Al-Mamlaka TV reported.
The authorities impose restrictions on issuing
permits, requiring citizens to possess an ID card issued by the Israeli
authorities after undergoing what they call a ‘security check.’ Subsequently,
citizens are forced to download a special application on their mobile devices
and submit a request for the permit, which is often denied.
The traditional Palm Sunday procession begins
in the afternoon from the Church of Bethphage to the Church of Saint Anne
inside the walls of the Old City, followed by a special prayer led by
Pierbattista Pizzaballa.
The Mass was attended by bishops, priests, a
crowd of monks, nuns, and a limited number of worshipers, mostly from Jerusalem
and the Palestinian territories of 1948, after the Israeli authorities
prevented thousands of Christians from the West Bank from reaching the holy
city.
All
festive celebrations have been canceled by the churches in light of the ongoing
Israeli war on Gaza since October 7, 2023. Celebrations are limited to holding
masses, prayers, and religious rituals.
A limited number of Christian pilgrims from
various countries around the world have arrived in Jerusalem, amidst the
cancellation of several airline flights due to the ongoing war on Gaza, in
addition to the strict restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities on the
entry of foreigners through the King Hussein Bridge.
Churches following the Western calendar in
Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, and Gaza celebrate Palm Sunday, while churches
in Ramallah, Nablus, and Jenin celebrate Easter according to the Eastern
calendar.
In
Gaza, a Palm Sunday Mass was held at the Church of Saint Ann Latin Holy Family
Church, despite the difficult circumstances imposed by the ongoing war, with
the participation of several displaced citizens who have been taking shelter in
the church since the start of the war.
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