Latest news with #HigherPresidentialCommitteeforChurchAffairsinPalestine
Roya News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Roya News
Palestinian church affairs committee condemns 'Israeli' strike on Gaza's only Catholic church
The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine expressed deep alarm on Thursday over the 'Israeli' airstrike that hit the Holy Family Church in Gaza City, injuring several people, including parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli, and causing extensive damage to the historic Catholic site. In a strongly worded statement, the committee denounced the strike as 'a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and the sanctity of religious sites.' It warned that such attacks pose 'a direct threat to the authentic Christian presence in the Holy Land' and reiterated that targeting churches and other religious institutions 'under any pretext is unacceptable and reprehensible.' The Holy Family Church, which belongs to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, serves as a spiritual and humanitarian hub for Gaza's small Catholic community. The committee urged the international community and human rights organizations to act immediately to protect places of worship in the Gaza Strip and to stop 'the ongoing assaults targeting civilians and holy sites alike.' It also pledged to continue coordinating with local churches and relevant institutions to follow up on the situation until all details of the strike are fully clarified.
Herald Malaysia
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Israel faces criticism after Vatican diplomat barred from sacred Easter event
Israeli authorities imposed sweeping restrictions on Christian worshippers during Holy Saturday celebrations in Jerusalem, barring thousands from accessing the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, including the Vatican's top envoy to Palestine. Apr 21, 2025 Ethiopian Orthodox Christian pilgrims hold candles during the ceremony of the JERUSALEM: Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, the Apostolic Delegate and Vatican Ambassador to Palestine, was denied entry to the sacred site, drawing strong condemnation from Palestinian Church leaders who described the move as a breach of diplomatic protocols and religious freedom. Security was tight in the Old City, where Israeli police set up multiple checkpoints and conducted identity checks, turning away large numbers of worshippers. The restrictions coincided with the Holy Fire ceremony, a central event in the Orthodox Easter calendar that traditionally draws thousands of local and international pilgrims. Palestinian sources said only 6,000 permits were issued to Christians from the occupied West Bank—far below the estimated 50,000-strong Christian population in the territories. Access for Palestinian Muslims and Christians to Jerusalem has long been tightly controlled, but this year's limitations were seen as particularly severe. The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine said many local Christians, along with foreign pilgrims, were blocked from reaching the church. Human rights groups reported incidents of physical assault and arbitrary arrests of worshippers during the day. Church leaders accused Israeli authorities of turning a deeply spiritual celebration into a militarized event. They warned that continued restrictions on religious access in Jerusalem undermine fundamental rights and escalate tensions in a region already gripped by conflict. Celebrations this year were again subdued, with churches limiting activities to liturgical services. Many Christian communities scaled back public processions due to the ongoing war in Gaza and heightened military presence across the occupied West Bank. Since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, more than 950 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank alone, according to local health authorities. In a landmark ruling last year, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the withdrawal of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Despite the barriers, Christian pilgrims continue to make their way to Jerusalem, affirming the enduring significance of the Holy Fire ritual and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, revered as the site of Jesus' crucifixion and
