The Holy Thursday ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre marks a significant Easter tradition for Christians, notably in the presence of the Greek Orthodox Patriarch. However, this year, attendance was drastically reduced due to increasingly strict Israeli travel restrictions on Palestinian Christians. Historically, thousands from the West Bank would attend the rituals, but since the conflict escalation in October 2023, obtaining entry permits has become significantly more challenging. This situation highlights the ongoing impact of Israeli policies on religious practices in Jerusalem, deeply affecting the local Christian community.
Centuries of tradition have been ruptured by Israel's increasingly draconian control over Palestinian movement, severely restricting access to Jerusalem for many worshippers during Easter.
For generations, tens of thousands of Palestinian Christians living in Israeli-occupied West Bank cities would travel to Jerusalem's Old City to participate in Easter rituals.
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