Palestinian Christians Mark Somber Easter Amid Israeli Military Operations and Church Bombing Aftermath

Palestinian Christians in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem observed Easter under military restrictions and mourning. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza, ongoing for 19 months, has heavily restricted access to holy sites, scaling back celebrations. The October 2023 bombing of Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza, killing 18 civilians, overshadowed the observance. In East Jerusalem, Israeli police blocked access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, leading to clashes. Religious leaders, including Pope Francis, condemned the violence and called for peace. Despite challenges, Palestinian Christians continued to gather and maintain their faith.

Easter in Gaza: Worship Amid Ruins

In Gaza City, dozens of Christians gathered at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius, one of the oldest churches in the region, to mark Easter. The church, which was bombed by Israeli forces on October 19, 2023, killing at least 18 displaced Palestinians sheltering inside, held a subdued service that was livestreamed on Facebook. The Israeli military stated at the time that it was targeting “terrorists” in the area.

This year, the church stood as both a place of worship and a symbol of loss. With the enclave under siege and no humanitarian aid allowed in for nearly 50 days, families canceled traditional gatherings, fearing further airstrikes. On Easter Sunday alone, dozens of people were reported killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza.

West Bank: Restricted Access and Diminished Celebrations

In the occupied West Bank, Easter services were held under a heavy atmosphere of grief. Churches in Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Jala conducted modest indoor prayers, foregoing traditional processions and parades. Rev. Munther Isaac, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and Beit Sahour, expressed concern over the future of Christian communities in the region, warning of their potential extinction amid ongoing violence and displacement.

According to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, only about 6,000 travel permits were issued for West Bank Christians this Easter, out of a population of approximately 50,000. Many worshippers were denied access to Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of Christianity’s holiest sites.

Roger Salameh, a 37-year-old Christian from Bethlehem, said he had never been able to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre due to permit restrictions. “Of course, we would like to celebrate the Easter Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where you feel a deeper connection to God and the significance of the Resurrection,” he said.

Jerusalem: Clashes and Checkpoints

In East Jerusalem, Israeli police forcibly blocked Christian worshippers from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the traditional Holy Fire ceremony on Holy Saturday. Eyewitnesses reported assaults, militarized checkpoints, and a heavy security presence throughout the Old City. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned the actions as “arbitrary” and “a blatant violation of the freedom of worship.”

Footage circulated online showed Israeli officers clashing with worshippers and even a priest. The Vatican’s ambassador to Palestine was reportedly denied entry to the church. Fathi Nimer, a policy fellow at the Al-Shabaka think tank, described the Old City as having been turned into a “military outpost,” with more soldiers than worshippers present.

Mitri Raheb, a Palestinian pastor and theologian based in Bethlehem, said he was unable to obtain a permit to attend Holy Week services in Jerusalem. “The Palestinian-Christian community that has been there for 2,000 years cannot go there to celebrate and mark this where it all happened,” he said.

Religious Leaders Speak Out

Religious leaders across the region and internationally voiced concern over the conditions under which Easter was observed. Pope Francis, during his Easter address in St. Peter’s Square, renewed his call for a ceasefire in Gaza and urged the release of captives held by Palestinian armed groups. He described the ongoing violence as “cruelty, not war.”

Pope Tawadros II, head of Egypt’s Coptic Orthodox Church, condemned the Israeli military campaign, stating, “Palestinians are subject to the most horrific forms of injustice in their daily lives amid the destruction of their homeland.”

In his Easter homily, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, emphasized the need for hope and compassion amid suffering. “Christ’s resurrection is not just a celebration of life conquering death, but a call to courageous, compassionate and hopeful witness,” he said.

A Community Under Pressure

Palestinian Christians, who make up a small minority in the region, have faced increasing challenges in recent years. According to local clergy, incidents of incitement and attacks by Israeli settlers have risen, particularly targeting Christian clergy. The Royal Committee for Jerusalem Affairs in Jordan stated that the Israeli occupation has turned religious holidays into occasions marked by “violence, racism, and repression.”

“Families mark their celebrations in refugee camps, among the ruins of their homes, and amid the pain of losing loved ones,” said Abdullah Kanaan, Secretary-General of the committee. He added that the Hashemite custodianship over Christian and Islamic holy sites in Jerusalem remains committed to supporting the Palestinian people.

A Diminished but Enduring Faith

Despite the restrictions, violence, and grief, Palestinian Christians continued to gather in their local churches, holding onto their traditions and faith. In Bethlehem’s St. Catherine Church, the pews were full on Easter Sunday, with families dressed in their finest, determined to mark the occasion together.

Maisa and Fahed Hawa, a Catholic-Greek Orthodox couple from Nazareth, chose to celebrate Easter in Bethlehem after being unable to attend the Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem. “This is Easter, we feel at peace with all despite the complicated situation we are living in,” Maisa said.

As the war in Gaza continues and access to holy sites remains restricted, the Christian communities of Palestine face an uncertain future. Yet, through modest services and quiet prayers, they continue to observe their faith under extraordinary circumstances.

References

• Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank mark sorrowful Easter amid Israeli attacks
• Somber Easter for Palestinian Christians under Israeli assaults in Gaza, West Bank
• Palestine condemns Israeli police assaults on Christians in occupied East Jerusalem
• Christians in the Holy Land celebrate Easter with ‘no illusions,’ but believing God is ‘guiding history’
• Jerusalem's Royal committee says occupation ‘kills’ Easter celebrations
• Palestinians in Gaza, West Bank mark sorrowful Easter amid Israeli attacks