- Title: Palestinian Christians celebrate Easter mass in Gaza City
- Date: 5th April 2026
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEUROSURGEON AT PANZMA (PALESTINIAN AUSTRALIAN NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL ASSOCIATION), RUTH MITCHELL, SAYING: “Well, it feels really special to be here at Easter at this church, which has meant so much for the people of Gaza, but it also has meant so much for those of us who have been watching from long way away, to see what has been happening here over the
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Ceasefire Christians Conflict Easter Gaza Israel Palestinians War
- Location: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- City: GAZA CITY, GAZA
- Country: Palestinian Occupied Territory
- Topics: Middle East,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA007003905042026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Palestinian Christians celebrated Easter Mass on Sunday (April 5) at Gaza City's Holy Family church, the first since ceasefire deal was agreed last October between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group running the war-torn enclave.
Easter is one of the most important celebrations in the Christian calendar and Pope Leo in Rome said that the story of Easter, when the Bible says Jesus rose from the dead three days after not resisting his execution by crucifixion, shows that Christ was "entirely nonviolent".
Speaking in St. Peter's Square the pope urged global leaders to end the conflicts raging across the world and abandon any schemes for power, conquest or domination.
"We hope and we pray, and we prayed for peace to prevail in our country, Palestine, and the rest of the countries, and especially Palestine," said George Antonio at the Gaza church.
An Israeli airstrike killed four Palestinians in the northern Gaza Strip on Sunday, local health authorities said, in the latest violence to overshadow a fragile ceasefire amid a new push by mediators to bolster the agreement.
Hamas and Israel have traded blame for violations of the ceasefire agreed last October, which halted two years of full-blown war.
The Gaza health ministry says Israeli fire has killed at least 700 people since the ceasefire began. Israel says four soldiers have been killed by militants in Gaza over the same period.
(Production: Dawoud Abu Alkas, Fadi Shana, Mai Shams El-Din) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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