Holy Land: Israel grants just 600 permits for Gaza Christians to visit Holy Places

Dec 21st, 2015

Church of the Nativity

While foreign pilgrims will be able to visit Bethlehem over Christmas, Israel is allowing very few Gaza Christians to make the journey. The Israeli authorities have issued just 600 travel permits to the 3,000 Christians living in Gaza. These permits last for one month, starting from Sunday, December 20. Palestinian sources said that the Israeli authorities have refused to give permits to Christians aged between 12 to 30 years of age. This means that most of the permits will be unusable, particularly those issued to children of younger couples, who might not be accompanied by their parents.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, December 20, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal opened the holy door of the parish in Gaza, dedicated to the Holy Family. The Patriarch, together with Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo and some priests from Jerusalem and the Palestinian Territories, attended the children's Christmas party that took place in the multipurpose premises of the newly-built parish.

Source: Fides

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