Today, Saturday, the Israeli occupation authorities-imposed restrictions on the arrival of Christians to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of occupied Jerusalem, to participate in the celebrations of the “Great and Holy Saturday” (also Great Sabbath), that precedes Easter.
The Israeli police closed Bab Al-Jadeed, which leads to the Church of the Sepulchre, and allowed Christians and media crews to pass through Al-Amoud and Hebron gates only, causing overcrowding at the doors and roads leading to the church.
The occupation forces assaulted a number of Christians while installing barricades and checkpoints, especially in the Christian neighbourhood of Jerusalem.
They also limited the number of worshipers entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Old City of occupied Jerusalem to 1,000 people only.
Last Thursday, the Israeli Supreme Court accepted the petition submitted by Orthodox Jerusalem institutions and personalities, which came following restrictions and a reduction of the number of Christians participating in the ” Great Sabbath” celebrations at the church.
These arbitrary measures coincided with the strict measures imposed on Palestinians entering the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Israeli occupation forces, which carried out systematic attacks on the mosque and worshipers inside it.
These daily attacks aimed to eliminate the Palestinian and religious identity of the city.
