US EditionEaster in Jerusalem Disrupted by War and Restrictions at Holy Sepulchre
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa led a small service as police screened worshippers and the Old City remained largely closed, officials said.
- On Sunday, April 5, 2026, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa held Easter Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre behind closed doors amid ongoing war restrictions.
- Israeli authorities restricted access to the Old City following the war's start on February 28, establishing checkpoints where debris from missiles has previously fallen near holy locations.
- Visitor Christina Toderas said, "It's very hard for all of us," describing the emptiness, while one Catholic from Tel Aviv called the inability to attend church "unacceptable."
- Father Bernard Poggi noted an "unevenness in how the laws are put into practice" regarding access, as Christian communities in the West Bank, including Bethlehem, held separate masses.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated the government continues to "steadfastly protect the freedom of worship for all faiths," though the ongoing conflict disrupts religious life across Christian communities.
24 Articles
24 Articles
Empty streets in Jerusalem’s Old City marks a quiet Easter Sunday
CNN’s Jim Sciutto walks the empty streets of Jerusalem’s Old City to see how worship for those practicing Christianity, Islam and Judaism has been disrupted amid the war with Iran. Israeli authorities restricted access to religious sites in East Jerusalem after the outbreak of the war, citing what they described as security and safety concerns.
Israeli restrictions spoil Easter for Palestinian Christians
Palestinian Christians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem have been celebrating Easter, despite the continued closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre by Israeli authorities and restrictions on movement. Christian churches following the Western calendar held masses for Eastern Sunday across the West Bank, including in Bethlehem, Beit Sahour, and Beit Jala, according to Palestinian news agency Wafa. This included a special mass at St…
Jerusalem: Easter, a major feast for Christians, is darkened this year by war and strict restrictions of access to the Holy Sepulchre.
During the Holy Week, faithful Christians used to cross the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem. This year, however, it was different. The most important religious sites in the Middle East were practically empty due to the war carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran. The Gulf countries were also seriously affected by the drastic decline in the number of international tourists. Chapters of the war: A new phase of U.S. attacks in…
This year's celebration of Jerusalem, one of the most sacred places of Christianity, took place with limited access, in the context of regional security tensions. The article How Catholics celebrated the Resurrection in Jerusalem. The holy places in Israel were first closed in Romania TV.
Easter in Jerusalem overshadowed by war and restrictions at the Holy Sepulchre
Silence reigned on Easter Sunday in the alleyways of Jerusalem's Old City, with the holiday overshadowed by war and restrictions on access to the Holy Sepulchre, where Christians commemorate Christ's crucifixion and resurrection.
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