‘They are trying to make it unbearable’: Jerusalem Christians face Easter under Israeli crackdown

Summary

The few who do make it to the Old City have been met with increased police brutality in recent years. He said several staff were beaten last year as they tried to attend Easter festivities in the Old City, and Christians in the Old City regularly faced hostility outside churches or as they went about their daily lives. Palestinian Christians are among the 51,000 people killed in Gaza since the war with Israel began and on Palm Sunday, an Israeli missile hit the only Christian-run hospital in the strip. For all its biblical significance and abundance of churches, convents and monasteries, Jerusalem’s Old City has become increasingly dangerous for all Christians, not just those from Arab backgrounds. “As Palestinian Christians, we know that this generation will either make it or break it,” said Abu Eid.

Additional Summaries

Jerusalem's sacred sites are being tested as Israel restricts access to Easter pilgrims for Palestinians of all faiths, with fewer than 100 remaining in the Church of the Nativity. Settler groups have played a role in destroying their sacred spaces, while the conflict continues without end. Despite the horrors and harassment, many still find hope in the city's holy ground.

**Easter Celebration in Jerusalem**: Easter is marked with hope amidst increasing threats to Christians in Jerusalem's Old City. Attacks range from verbal abuse to arson on churches, often perpetrated by young Jewish men. The government has promised to protect religious freedom but Christian leaders report worsening hostility. Palestinian Christians view Easter as a symbol of resistance and hope despite persecution. Tensions are exacerbated by the Gaza war, Israel's far-right government, and American evangelicals.