Current:Home > FinanceChristians in Jerusalem cautiously celebrate Easter amid Israel-Hamas war-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Christians in Jerusalem cautiously celebrate Easter amid Israel-Hamas war
View Date:2024-12-23 22:02:04
As the war between Israel and Hamas continues in Gaza, many Christian pilgrims have stayed away from the Holy Land this Easter, but in Jerusalem, the thousands of Christians who live in the city have begun to celebrate annual rituals amid an increasingly hostile environment.
On Good Friday, Christian pilgrims could be seen filling the city's ancient alleyways, praying and singing as they walked the Via Dolorosa, which translates to "The Way of Suffering." Christians believe that Jesus walked this route when he carried the cross to the hill where he would be crucified.
While many Christians who might normally participate in the pilgrimage stayed away, those who attended said they weren't afraid, despite the ongoing war. Kurt Blackwelder, a minister from North Carolina who traveled to Jerusalem despite the violence, said he wasn't "at all" frightened.
Jerusalem is a contested city, considered a holy place by Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Both Israelis and Palestinians have claimed it as a capital. Many of the Christians in Jerusalem are Palestinian. The community has experienced a spike in assaults by ultra-Orthodox Jews, with Palestinian Christians reporting that they have been spit at.
"It's very uncommon for people to be arrested," said Father Bernard Poggi, who is from California but has lived in Jerusalem for ten years, where he preaches to the Palestinian Christian community.
Poggi said he fears even worse backlash.
"Our worst fear is that people won't have the right to pray," Poggi said. "Our worst fear is that people will be removed, those who want to come to this holy city to pray, as they are now, will be rejected, that they're not given permission to come."
In Gaza, Palestinian Christians are struggling to simply stay alive. Hundreds have taken shelter inside churches in the Gaza Strip, hoping for protection. At Gaza's Holy Family Church, those sheltering inside celebrated Palm Sunday, reciting the Catholic profession of faith.
Blackwelder said that he has been spending time with a family of Palestinian Muslims during his pilgrimage, and said that he hoped there could be unity between the different groups.
"I love them dearly. I love them all," he said, referring to his guides. "I wish we could all come together in one, one, one spirit, one belief."
- In:
- Jerusalem
- Israel
- Easter
- Palestinians
- Gaza Strip
- West Bank
veryGood! (985)
Related
- Klay Thompson returns to Golden State in NBA Cup game. How to watch
- James Crumbley, father of Michigan school shooter, fights to keep son's diary, texts out of trial
- In 'To Kill a Tiger,' a father stands by his assaulted daughter. Oscar, stand by them.
- This Lionel Messi dribble over an injured player went viral on TikTok
- She's a trans actress and 'a warrior.' Now, this 'Emilia Pérez' star could make history.
- Two steps forward, one step back: NFL will have zero non-white offensive coordinators
- Brothers resentenced to 60 years to life in 1995 slayings of parents, younger brother
- New York AG says she’ll seize Donald Trump’s property if he can’t pay $454 million civil fraud debt
- Taylor Swift drops Christmas merchandise collection, including for 'Tortured Poets' era
- Mayorkas meets with Guatemalan leader Arévalo following House impeachment over immigration
Ranking
- California teen pleads guilty in Florida to making hundreds of ‘swatting’ calls across the US
- A hospital is suing to move a quadriplegic 18-year-old to a nursing home. She says no
- Slayings of tourists and Colombian women expose the dark side of Medellin’s tourism boom
- Kodai Senga injury: New York Mets ace shut down with shoulder problem
- Today Reveals Hoda Kotb's Replacement
- Tennessee firm hired kids to clean head splitters and other dangerous equipment in meat plants, feds allege
- Kim Kardashian Celebrates North West’s Music Milestone After She Debuts Rap Name
- Alabama seeks to perform second execution using nitrogen hypoxia
Recommendation
-
2 striking teacher unions in Massachusetts face growing fines for refusing to return to classroom
-
Trial to determine if Texas school’s punishment of a Black student over his hair violates new law
-
Wyze camera breach allowed customers to look at other people's camera feeds: What to know
-
Hurts so good: In Dolly Alderton's 'Good Material,' readers feel heartbreak unfold in real-time
-
John Robinson, former USC Trojans and Los Angeles Rams coach, dies at 89
-
Inter Miami vs. Real Salt Lake highlights: Messi doesn't score, but still shows off in win
-
New York AG says she’ll seize Donald Trump’s property if he can’t pay $454 million civil fraud debt
-
Bears QB Justin Fields explains why he unfollowed team on Instagram