Israeli occupation forces attacked a number of citizens at Bab al-Jadid in occupied Jerusalem on Saturday, preventing dozens of families from reaching their homes in the Old City.

The occupation forces transformed occupied Jerusalem into a military barracks and deployed checkpoints around the Old City and the alleys leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, coinciding with the Christian churches' celebration of Holy Saturday, or "Holy Saturday."

Local sources reported that occupation forces obstructed worshippers' access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and detained them at checkpoints, including the Apostolic Nuncio to Jerusalem, the Vatican's representative to the State of Palestine, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana.

Jerusalemite journalist and activist Rafi Ghattas said in a video recording from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre courtyard that the number of Israeli police officers deployed in and around the church courtyard exceeded the number of worshippers. He noted that the occupation forces imposed strict restrictions and prevented worshippers from reaching the church and its courtyard, which appeared unusually empty for such an occasion. They also assaulted the worshippers gathered inside the church.

The Israeli occupation has prevented thousands of Christian citizens from the West Bank from reaching occupied Jerusalem to participate in Holy Saturday. The occupation requires Palestinians, both Muslims and Christians, to obtain special permits to cross its military checkpoints surrounding the Holy City and access places of worship, particularly the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

For the second year in a row, a small number of pilgrims are participating in the Holy Week and Easter prayers in Jerusalem, due to the repercussions of the ongoing Israeli war of extermination and aggression against Palestine since October 7, 2023.

Churches have also cancelled all Easter celebrations and scouting parades, with the holiday being limited to masses, prayers, and religious rituals.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, All Palestine, and Jordan, Theophilos III, will lead a special prayer at the Holy Sepulchre inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre this afternoon to receive the Holy Fire, which will then be carried to various churches in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Ramallah, Nablus, Jenin, and within the 1948 territories, in addition to churches outside Palestine.

It is worth noting that Easter, or "Resurrection Day," coincides this year according to both the Eastern and Western calendars.