OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (Palestine Foundation Information Center), The Hamas Movement has condemned Israeli authorities for preventing the Palm Sunday service from taking place at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Occupied Jerusalem, describing the move as a dangerous and unprecedented step not seen for centuries.
In a statement, the Movement said the decision reflects the implementation of policies aimed at “Judaizing” the city, constitutes a direct violation of freedom of worship, and threatens the identity of Occupied Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.
Hamas denounced the unjustified ban, alongside broader Israeli measures targeting land and religious sites, arguing that these actions are part of a systematic effort to alter the city’s historical and religious character.
The Movement further called on church councils worldwide to condemn these practices and to act in defense of religious freedom and access to holy places, urging the international community to take serious steps to halt violations against Palestinians and their sacred sites.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli forces reportedly blocked the Palm Sunday service at the church in a move described as unprecedented. Church sources said Israeli police prevented the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, along with other clergy, from entering the church to conduct the service, despite their arrival without any public procession.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed that the decision prevented the service from taking place for the first time in centuries, calling it a clear violation of religious freedom and a departure from the longstanding status quo at holy sites.
The Patriarchate also expressed concern over the move, stating it disregards the sentiments of millions of Christians worldwide, particularly during the holiday season, despite churches complying with imposed restrictions.
The ban comes amid increasing restrictions on Palestinian Christians’ access to holy sites in Occupied Jerusalem, raising concerns about its impact on the city’s religious and historical fabric.
In parallel, Israeli forces have continued to restrict access to Aqsa Mosque since the start of the recent war, preventing hundreds of thousands of worshippers from performing Tarawih and Eid al-Fitr prayers there this year.
The Jerusalem Governorate has also warned of attempts by settlers to introduce animal sacrifices into the Old City during the Jewish Passover, describing it as an escalatory move aimed at imposing new religious rituals.
In a statement, the Governorate said such attempts are part of efforts to “Judaize” Aqsa Mosque and impose new realities within its courtyards, noting that groups associated with the so-called “Temple” movement have intensified campaigns, sometimes using AI-generated content, to mobilize supporters.
It added that 2025 has already witnessed multiple attempts to bring sacrificial animals into Aqsa, including attempts to slaughter them and the introduction of blood-stained meat, describing this as a systematic escalation tied to the ideological and political objectives of far-right religious groups.
The Governorate warned of further attempts to carry out such rituals during the Passover period between April 2 and 9, urging urgent local and international action to prevent changes to the status quo and ensure the protection of holy sites.
