Israeli forces attack Christians ahead of Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM - APRIL 15: Israeli forces attacked some Orthodox Christians who came to the church to attend the "Holy Fire" service at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied East Jerusalem on Saturday (April 15). Christians in the Old City area of occupied East Jerusalem, home to the holy sites, gathered in the Christian quarters of the ancient city with candles, wooden crosses, daggers and swords in their hands. Singing songs and chanting religious slogans, Orthodox Christians marched towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in East Jerusalem to attend the "Holy Fire" service. The Israeli police blocked the roads leading to the church in the Old City of Jerusalem and did not allow the passage of Christians from abroad. Israeli police set up barricades to block the crossings, as they only allowed some clergy and a small number of Orthodox Christians to move across. Some Christians, including women, tried to break through the Israeli barricades to attend the service, while Israeli forces struck some of them. Among those hit by the Israeli police was a Christian cleric and one person fainted during the row. (Footage by Mohammad Hamad/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)