Israeli authorities imposed sweeping restrictions on Christian worshippers during Holy Saturday celebrations in Jerusalem, barring thousands from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, including the Vatican’s top envoy to Palestine.
Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, the Apostolic Delegate and Vatican Ambassador to Palestine, was denied entry to the sacred site, drawing strong condemnation from Palestinian Church leaders who described the move as a breach of diplomatic protocols and religious freedom.
Security was tight in the Old City, where Israeli police set up multiple checkpoints and conducted identity checks, turning away large numbers of worshippers.
The restrictions coincided with the Holy Fire ceremony, a central event in the Orthodox Easter calendar that traditionally draws thousands of local and international pilgrims.
Palestinian sources said only 6,000 permits were issued to Christians from the occupied West Bank—far below the estimated 50,000-strong Christian population in the territories.
Access for Palestinian Muslims and Christians to Jerusalem has long been tightly controlled, but this year’s limitations were seen as particularly severe.
The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine said many local Christians, along with foreign pilgrims, were blocked from reaching the church. Human rights groups reported incidents of physical assault and arbitrary arrests of worshippers during the day.
Church leaders accused Israeli authorities of turning a deeply spiritual celebration into a militarized event. They warned that continued restrictions on religious access in Jerusalem undermine fundamental rights and escalate tensions in a region already gripped by conflict.
Celebrations this year were again subdued, with churches limiting activities to liturgical services. Many Christian communities scaled back public processions due to the ongoing war in Gaza and heightened military presence across the occupied West Bank.
Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, more than 950 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank alone, according to local health authorities.
In a landmark ruling last year, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the withdrawal of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Despite the barriers, Christian pilgrims continue to make their way to Jerusalem, affirming the enduring significance of the Holy Fire ritual and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.
