The Coordinator of Occupied Territories in the occupation government allowed 200 Christians from the Gaza Strip to leave the Gaza Strip to celebrate the Christian Passover. Permits were granted only to those over the age of 55, who were required to travel only to Jordan and not to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem to participate in religious celebrations.
Palestinian sources said that in the past years, Israel has allowed 500 to 600 Gazans to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, about half of what are Orthodox Christians in the Gaza Strip.
Christians in the Gaza Strip usually received permits to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher during Easter and participate in religious celebrations, but this year the number was greatly reduced. Israel claims that allowing Christians to leave the Gaza Strip to participate in Easter celebrations is a holiday facility, but the Palestinians stress that what is happening is a tightening of permit conditions.
"They allow the release of 200 people over the age of 55 and only to Jordan and what we have there, in addition to being older," said Elias El-Gelda, an activist in the Orthodox community in the Gaza Strip.
Aida Touma Suleiman, Hadash, called on the Spokesman to increase the number of people allowed to participate in religious celebrations and to reduce the age requirements and allow them to attend the celebrations in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
