Gaza City: Christians in the Gaza Strip want to celebrate Christmas with their families every year, but Israeli travel restrictions are preventing thousands from doing so.

Israel has been accused of severely restricting the number of worshipers who are allowed to pray at the Church of the Nativity of Bethlehem.

Israel reportedly turned down more than 260 applications, according to the Palestinian Civil Affairs Authority, which is in charge of coordinating communications with Israeli officials at the Erez crossing.

Also Read: Iranian supreme leader's niece was given a three-year sentence for aiding ongoing demonstrations

According to an anonymous source who spoke to Arab News, out of more than 900 applications submitted, the authority has approved only about 640 applicants.

In a phone briefing, a senior Israeli security official said that 200 people had been denied visas because of insufficient security clearance.

According to figures provided by the Latin Monastery Church in Gaza, there are approximately 1,100 Christians living in the Gaza Strip.

As a result of migration due to dire economic conditions, sieges, and ongoing Israeli attacks, the number of Christians in Gaza has decreased over the years.

Many have moved abroad or to the West Bank.

Kamel Ayad, director of public relations for the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza, told Arab News that the church "deeply regrets that not all Christians were given the necessary permits."

According to Ayad, as Christians, we have an obligation to participate in Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born, as it is a destination accessible to Christians everywhere.

Also Read:  Non-Muslims studying in madrasas will not be given religious training, NCPCR orders

Ayad continued by saying that each year it was customary to send a list of the names of Christians who wished to obtain permission to travel during the Christmas season.

According to Ayad, most of the time, permits are issued randomly, meaning that only certain members of Christian families are allowed to travel to Bethlehem.

Every year, Christians and Muslims gather at Association Square in Gaza to help the YMCA light a large Christmas tree.

Since the capture of the Gaza Strip by Hamas in mid-2007, Israel has imposed a strict blockade on the territory.

According to Hani Farah, general secretary of the YMCA in Gaza, Israel "practices all forms of repression and violations against Palestinians, regardless of their religion or gender."

"The blockade and its repressive measures do not differentiate between a Muslim and a Christian," he continued. “Just as Israeli bombs and missiles do not differentiate between Palestinians and Palestinians. We all suffer together because we are trapped in Gaza.

Sana, a Christian living in the Gaza Strip, was granted a permit, but her husband and their three children were not allowed.

What should I do with my permit without my family, she questioned?

"The spirit of Christmas is for all the family members to gather in one place," Sana told Arab News. I can't go to Bethlehem alone to celebrate Christmas. This happens every year. Permits are issued only to one or two members of the family.

Israel controls the movement of Palestinians in and out of the northern Gaza Strip through the Erez crossing and issues permits only to those who need it for humanitarian reasons, as well as to thousands of daily workers and some aid workers employed by international organizations. are employed.

Hamas criticized Israel for preventing Christians from visiting the West Bank over the Christmas holiday.

"We condemn the Israeli occupation's prohibition of Christians visiting holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem on religious holidays," it said in a statement.

Also Read:  3 Palestinians are killed by the Israeli army in a West Bank raid

We consider Israel's action as a gross violation of the right of worship as it limits access to holy sites for Palestinian Christians.