Thousands of Christians observed Palm Sunday in Jerusalem as the conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas continued in the area.
A large number of believers participated in the customary march on the Mount of Olives, holding palm fronds and olive branches to symbolize Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem before his betrayal and crucifixion, as described in the Bible.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, believed to be the site of Jesus’s crucifixion and tomb, conducted a service earlier in the day. The Associated Press reported..
Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, marks the start of the most sacred and solemn week for Christians. This week, Christians will also observe Good Friday and Easter, commemorating Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection.
Palm Sunday typically starts with the clergy blessing the palms and reading the Passion of Christ, which recounts the final moments of Jesus’s life. According to The Associated Press. Christian pilgrims will carry the palm fronds and olive branches from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem’s historic Old City, as mentioned by the news wire.
Despite ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in nearby Gaza, Christian pilgrims celebrated Palm Sunday in Jerusalem. More than 32,000 Palestinians have died since early October, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths.
A war that began over five months ago with a surprise attack by Hamas against Israel has caused approximately 1,200 deaths and about 240 abductions. Israeli forces have committed to eradicating the threat posed by Hamas and argue that a permanent cessation of hostilities would signify a victory for the group, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
Despite the nearby violence, the celebrations on Sunday remained unaffected, as per The AP.
David Manini, a pilgrim from Italy, expressed, “While there is a war, I don’t sense any tension.”
Jennifer Weedon from the U.S. stated, “I'm here because I am devoted to Jesus Christ,” according to the AP.
On Sunday, a pilgrim held a sign reading, “Save us lord. The Church of Saint Porphyrius and Holy Family Church, Gaza,” as reported by the news wire.
