As Christians in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Jerusalem marked a sorrowful Easter Sunday, deadly violence continued across the region. Israeli military strikes killed 31 people in Gaza and two others in Lebanon, while US forces launched air raids on Yemen, hitting a crowded market in Sanaa and killing at least 12 people, Al Jazeera reports.
The violence added to the already devastating toll of Israel’s 18-month-long war on Gaza. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 51,201 Palestinians have been confirmed dead and 116,869 injured. The Gaza Government Media Office updated the death toll to over 61,700, stating that thousands more are believed to be buried beneath the rubble.
Meanwhile, the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) rejected the findings of an Israeli military investigation into the killing of 15 emergency workers last month. The PRCS has called for an independent United Nations-led inquiry, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency.
In Yemen, the humanitarian crisis deepened as the US conducted additional strikes following the deadly attack on the Sanaa marketplace. Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV reported that US forces carried out three more attacks in Amran province and two in the al-Jawba district of Marib province.
In the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, Easter was marked by restrictions and clashes. Israeli forces reportedly blocked many Palestinian Christians from accessing holy sites. Tensions flared at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where police clashed with worshippers and even confronted a priest.
At the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City, Easter services were held amid scenes of destruction and grief. The Israeli military has blocked food and aid from entering Gaza for nearly 50 days, worsening the humanitarian crisis.
This Easter Sunday, traditionally a time of celebration and renewal, instead became a day of mourning for many across the region.
