Christians in Jerusalem Urge Defiance Against Israeli Oppression

Restrictions imposed during the war with Iran have intensified tensions in Jerusalem’s Old City, where Palestinian Christians say access limits to holy sites reflect deeper patterns of control and mounting pressure on religious communities.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa was stopped by Israeli forces on Palm Sunday from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in what church officials described as the first such disruption in centuries.

After being turned back, he led a service outside the Old City. Israeli authorities later granted access to the church. Local residents, however, questioned the response. “He should have found a way,” said one shopkeeper. “If necessary, he should have prayed in the street.”

Israeli police cited missile threats linked to the war with Iran, noting debris damage in Jerusalem. Yet Palestinians argue the restrictions extend beyond security concerns, pointing to closures at Al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan and Eid earlier this month.

East Jerusalem has been under Israeli control since 1967, a status widely regarded as illegal under international law. Critics say restrictions on movement and worship reinforce that control, particularly during religious holidays.

Beyond current closures, Christian leaders point to a documented rise in attacks. Reports by the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue recorded 111 incidents in 2024, including 47 physical assaults and 35 cases of vandalism targeting churches and clergy.

Incidents include repeated spitting on priests along the Via Dolorosa, an Armenian priest reportedly spat on more than 90 times in one year, and damage to sites such as the Church of the Flagellation and Mount Zion Cemetery.

Critics say enforcement has been inconsistent, with some officials downplaying incidents.

The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians warned that denying access to the Holy Sepulchre represents “a flagrant act of religious persecution,” linking it to broader pressures on Muslim and Christian custodians of holy sites.

Observers also point to perceived inconsistencies, noting that Jewish celebrations proceeded elsewhere in the city during the same period.

In the occupied West Bank, pressures extend beyond access restrictions. Reports cite attacks on Christian communities, including arson near the Church of St. George in Taybeh and destruction of olive groves, alongside intimidation that has led to displacement.

Data referenced by rights groups shows patterns of violence between December 2023 and February 2024 across Plateau-like conflict zones - though here tied to land disputes, movement restrictions, and settler activity affecting Palestinian Christians.

Church leaders from multiple denominations warn these conditions, combined with limited accountability, risk accelerating emigration and eroding the historic Christian presence in the region.

Residents described an Old City largely emptied during Easter week, a period that typically draws large crowds. “There are no celebrations,” said one resident. “At this time of year the city should be crowded.”

Security forces remained visible across entry points, with checks, patrols, and restricted access shaping daily life around the Holy Sepulchre and surrounding areas.