On Palm Sunday, Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Reverend Francesco Ielpo from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, marking the first time in centuries that the traditional Mass could not be held there, due to heightened security amid conflict between Israel and Iran. The move, justified by Israeli authorities as a safety measure against missile threats, sparked widespread international condemnation for infringing on religious freedoms and access to holy sites. In response to the backlash, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office pledged to facilitate worship for church leaders during the remainder of Easter week, highlighting the ongoing tension between security and religious rights in Jerusalem.
Posts tagged as “Old City”
On Thursday, May 18th, Israel deployed over 2,000 police officers to Jerusalem's Old City in anticipation of a march by Jewish nationalists waving Israeli flags. The march is an annual event commemorating Israel's capture of the Old City and has been met with criticism from some Palestinians, who view it as a provocation. Authorities have increased security in an effort to ensure the march passes without violence and the Israeli government is determined to ensure the march passes without incident.
A break-in occurred at a Walmart parking lot in Northeast Philadelphia, resulting in the theft of approximately $100,000 in dimes from a trailer carrying an estimated $750,000 worth of coins. Police are still searching for the suspect and are asking anyone with information to come forward. Clean-up crews are also working to clear the coins scattered across the parking lot and nearby road.
Israeli police clashed with Palestinians inside the al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City on Wednesday morning, resulting in seven injuries and two hospitalizations. Video footage showed police using stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse groups of youths, while amateur video taken by Palestinians showed police scuffling with people and beating them with clubs and rifle butts. The incident occurred days after a Palestinian man was killed outside the holy site, with no statement from Israeli police regarding the cause of death.