Israeli forces assaulted Palestinian Christian worshippers visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Saturday as thousands were prevented from reaching Jerusalem to celebrate Easter.
Adeeb Joudeh Al-Husseini, the custodian of the keys to the church, told The New Arab's sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Israeli forces emptied the church of visitors and worshippers who were observing Holy Saturday, even those with special permits.
Holy Saturday commemorates when Jesus laid in his tomb after his crucifixion, and comes a day before Easter, the holiest day in Christianity.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in the Old City in East Jerusalem, is believed by Christians to be the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.
"This has become a recurring practice, a deliberate humiliation of believers and pilgrims, and a denial of their right to practice their religious rituals freely. The occupation forces close the roads leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and prevent anyone from entering, even on the holiest days for Christians," Al-Husseini told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
He added that "the barbarity with which Christian pilgrims are treated is unparalleled".
Israeli forces tightened security measures around the Old City in the run up to Easter, setting up checkpoints, harassing worshippers and visitors, and preventing thousands of Palestinian Christians from reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Celebrants had already been barred from travelling to Jerusalem from the occupied West Bank a week ago to commemorate Palm Sunday, and thousands were barred from visiting Jerusalem’s holy sites on Good Friday.
Palestinian activist George Sahar described the Saturday assault on worshippers as "the worst" since the occupation of Jerusalem following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
Sahar told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that checkpoints leading to the church and the Old City were closed off, forcing people to wait for hours.
"These attacks against Christians cannot be separated from the violations our Muslim brothers are subjected to during the month of Ramadan, especially on Fridays, when they are also prevented from reaching Al-Aqsa Mosque," he said.
Sahar added that there is a "clear policy" to restrict freedom of worship for both Christians and Muslims in Jerusalem, noting that the situation this year has been particularly dire.
He called for urgent intervention from world governments, churches and human rights organisations.
Despite the assault on them, pilgrims at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre participated in the Holy Fire ceremony on Saturday.