Palestinian Christians on the Gaza and the occupied West Bank hold mild gatherings leading up to Easter.
Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least 58 Palestinians in a day as Christians marked Good Friday in enclaves where they were besieged and bombarded.
More than half of the casualties were in Gaza city and northern Gaza, but fatal attacks have occurred across the Palestinian strip, including Khan Eunice and Rafa in the south, medical sources told Al Jazeera on Friday.
Israeli forces said it is operating in Shabula and Tar Az Sultan areas near Rafa, as well as northern Gaza, where Israel controls a wide area east of Gaza.
On Friday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that Israel intends to achieve its war objectives.
” [Israeli army] We are currently working towards a decisive victory in all arenas, hostage releases and Hamas defeat in Gaza,” he said in a statement.
However, Palestinian Christians in Gaza continued to have a temperate gathering leading up to Easter amid the attack.
Speaking to Al Jazeera from a local church, Ihab Ayad said he had gathered with other congregations and visited his neighbor’s house every year to celebrate.
“This year, we didn’t make any visits anywhere for complete destruction. [Israeli] The occupying forces levelled most of my relatives and my neighbors’ homes,” Ayad said. We didn’t celebrate because we feel very sad. ”
Ramez Al-Soury said he was traveling from Gaza to Bethlehem and Jerusalem for Holy Week.
However, the “war atmosphere” is now permeating Gaza. “The smell of death is everywhere. The smell of killing and destruction puts a lot of pressure on us,” he said.
In a report from Gaza city, Hani Mahmoud of Al Jazeera said the Christian community holds their faith and is gathering in one of the oldest churches in Gaza.
“In Gaza, Good Friday is the power of faith and the quiet power of those who still believe in peace, even when the world around us is only a stage full of violence and death,” he said.
Violence of West Bank Settlers
A ritual marking Good Friday and Easter is also being held on the occupied West Bank.
There are approximately 50,000 Palestinian Christians in the area. However, Israeli authorities have requested permission to get travel to Jerusalem, making it difficult for many to take part in those celebrations.
Additionally, Israeli settlers and troops softened the celebration by attacking the Palestinians on the land of the town of Vidya, Governor Sarphit on the occupied West Bank, according to Al Jazeera Arabic on Friday.
Palestinian Red Crescent said the Palestinians were injured in the attack.
Local sources also told Al-Jazirah Arabic that dozens of settlers had attacked Jabal al-Urma, the hill in the town of Beita, Governor Nabulus, under Israeli military protection.
The settlers are Israeli citizens who live illegally on civilian Palestinian lands in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Israeli settlers and military violence have skyrocketed across the West Bank, particularly north of the territory. Since the war with Gaza began in October 2023, the UN says the violence has driven out about 40,000 Palestinians since Israel launched a new military operation on the occupied West Bank in January.
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