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Israel Bars Most Gaza Christians From Traveling to Jerusalem During Easter

The country will only let those 55 or older enter.

Israeli authorities announced Thursday that they will block most of Gaza’s small Christian population from traveling to Jerusalem for Easter due to safety concerns, according to the Associated Press. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem told Al Jazeera that church leaders had applied for “600 permits for Gaza Palestinian worshipers to travel, but had not received any.” The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories—the defense arm that handles “Palestinian civilian concerns”—says it will only allow people aged 55 or older to leave Gaza and enter Israel. COGAT also said the cap is in place to “prevent people from fleeing and overstaying their stays in Israel.” Al Jazeera estimates that around 1,000 Christians live in Gaza, adding that nearly 570 Christians were allowed to travel out of Gaza last year.