Thousands of people celebrates Christian Easter, which coincided with Jewish Passover and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In a tense Jerusalem on Sunday, against a backdrop of escalating Israeli-Palestinian violence.
Leading Easter Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, Pope Francis expresses “deep concern” about the recent escalation of tensions. Which triggered by an Israeli police raid on Al-Aqsa mosque, Islam’s third holiest site.
Since then, Israel has hit targets in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria in response to rocket fire blamed primarily on Palestinian terrorists. Three individuals were killed in separate attacks in the occupied West Bank and the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. Including an Italian tourist.
Pilgrims crammed into the tight alleyways of Old City of Jerusalem amid growing fears of violence. Flanked by armed Israeli security forces deployed in the aftermath of the tragic attacks.
The church of Holy Sepulchre filled by worshippers
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the spot where Christians believe where Jesus crucified, buried, and resurrected. Filled with celebrants.
“I had some reservations, considering recent events,” said Paulius Majauskas, 50, a visitor from Lithuania.
Nearby, thousands of Jewish pilgrims gathered for the traditional priestly blessing of Passover
Judy Green, 60, said the blessing was “beautiful, very uplifting” at the Western Wall, the holiest place where Jews can pray.
“I feel that God will protect us, we’re all praying together as one people,” she said.
The Western Wall lies in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and sits below the Temple Mount. The most sacred site to Jews, known to Muslims as Al-Haram al-Sharif.
Israeli police stormed the mosque’s prayer hall in a violent pre-dawn raid Wednesday. Says it was aimed at dislodging “law-breaking youths and masked agitators”.
Mahmud Mansour, a Palestinian Muslim, criticised the police actions.
“This is our place. We have to stay in the evening, in the night, and this is Ramadan . We have to pray,” the 65-year-old told AFP near the mosque compound.
The raid followed reports that Jewish activists were intending to hold a traditional Passover sacrifice at the compound. A banned practice which a top Israeli rabbi has moved to prevent.
In addition, after the raid, more than 30 rockets fired from Lebanon towards Israel. Which the Israeli army blamed on Palestinian groups.
Israel then bombarded Gaza and southern Lebanon.