Saudi Arabia and several Arab and Islamic nations strongly condemned Israeli restrictions on freedom of worship in occupied Jerusalem. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that foreign ministers from Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Qatar, and the UAE joined the Kingdom in rejecting these measures.
Israeli authorities recently blocked Muslim worshippers from accessing Al-Aqsa Mosque and prevented Christian leaders from entering the Holy Sepulchre. Consequently, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Custos of the Holy Land could not celebrate the vital Palm Sunday Mass. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem confirmed that Israeli police specifically barred Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Friar Francesco Ielpo from the site.
“As a result, and for the first time in centuries, the Heads of the Church were prevented from celebrating the Palm Sunday Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the statement noted.
International Pressure and Reversal
The international outcry eventually forced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reverse the ban for the remainder of the Holy Week. Although police cited security concerns regarding the conflict with Iran, the Vatican expressed its deep regret during diplomatic meetings.
Netanyahu later posted on social media to clarify his instruction to grant the cardinal full and immediate access to the site. “Even though I understand this concern, as soon as I learned about the incident with Cardinal Pizzaballa, I instructed the authorities to enable the Patriarch to hold services as he wishes,” he stated.
Israeli police claimed they closed holy sites because the Old City lacks adequate bomb shelters for the current regional war. However, Islamic and Christian leaders view these justifications as a direct assault on the historical status quo of Jerusalem. Diplomats continue to demand that Israel respects the right of all believers to practice their faith without military interference.
