clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Israel hinders Good Friday celebrations in Jerusalem

April 19, 2019 at 6:51 pm

Members of the local Catholic Palestinian parish carry a wooden cross along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering) in Jerusalem’s Old City during the Good Friday procession on 19 April 2019. [GALI TIBBON/AFP/Getty Images]

Israeli restrictions on Friday prevented many Palestinian Christians — especially those from the blockaded Gaza Strip — from taking part in Good Friday celebrations in Jerusalem’s Old City, Anadolu reports.

Marked each year on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus on Mount Calvary outside Jerusalem.

Nevertheless, despite the deployment of Israeli troops on the streets of the Old City, thousands of Christians — many carrying crucifixes — marched along the Via Dolorosa on Friday to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

READ: How can Israelis celebrate Passover while denying Palestinian Christians the right to travel? 

According to Wadie Abu Nassar, a local church official, Palestinian Christians from blockaded Gaza were unable to take part in Friday’s celebrations due to restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities.

“Israel has refused to allow Christians from Gaza to attend this year’s Easter celebrations in Jerusalem,” Abu Nassar said in a Friday statement.

“Access must be guaranteed to Jerusalem’s holy sites without restriction,” he added. “Security considerations should not override man’s fundamental freedoms.”