Palestinian Christians Blocked from Traveling to Jerusalem, Celebrate Easter in Gaza City

Gaza City, Gaza — Orthodox Christians in Gaza celebrated Easter at the Church of St. Porphyrius amidst an atmosphere of prayer, faith, and resilience despite Israel’s war and siege on Gaza that has prevented them from reaching Jerusalem for the Holy Week of festivities.

St. Porphyrius, one of the oldest churches in the world, sits in the Old City of Gaza City and has been bombed by Israel multiple times since October 2023, including an Israeli airstrike that killed 17 Christians on Oct. 19, 2023. Upwards of 44 Christians have been killed by Israeli forces over the last 30 months.

Despite the pain, the absence of the usual festive atmosphere, and their limited resources, members of the congregation cling to their religious practices.

Congregants were supposed to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate Easter at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but the Israeli occupation forces prevented them due to the war. Unicorn Riot documented the services and heard from 41-year-old Musa Ayad, a displaced Palestinian Christian.

“The Orthodox Church in Gaza celebrates Easter, the end of suffering […] We miss so much of this holiday. We have lost relatives and friends we used to visit on this day, and we have lost homes where we used to celebrate,” said Ayad. Yet, “humanity remains, and hope remains.”

Ayad wished “goodness and peace” to the world and said, “We will always remain hopeful that Gaza will return to its former life, an oasis of stability and peace.”

See last year’s coverage from St. Porphyrius: Palestinian Christians in Gaza City Gather for Prayers Amid Israeli Bombardment