Jerusalem heads into a subdued Passover and Easter under the shadow of the Iran war

(29 Mar 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem - 25 March 2026
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Melanie Lidman, The Associated Press:
"I'm here at the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem. In normal times this plaza would be packed with people ahead of the Passover holiday next week, but like many other sites in Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, this place is largely closed during the ongoing war. The spring holidays, including Easter, Passover, and Ramadan this year, are normally a time of hope. The seasons begin to change. But this year, as the war drags on, people will not be able to celebrate in the normal way with large public prayers or public celebrations. Unlike previous rounds of conflict, where Jerusalem has largely been spared as a target due to the presence of a large number of holy sites, there have been several missile impacts in the Old City, including just a few hundreds meters away from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The city's normally bustling markets are completely shuttered as exhausted Jerusalem residents prepare for another holiday under the shadow of war."
2. Al Aqsa mosque
3. Mid of domes of the holy Sepulcher church
4. Dome of the Rock mosque
5. Various of Jerusalem
6. Shut shops
7. Jews praying outside Plaza of the Western Wall with Dome of the Rock in background
STORYLINE:
Jerusalem's major holy sites are shuttered and families are dejected and exhausted ahead of Passover and Easter as the Iran war rages on, now in its fifth week.

It's a stark contrast to the usually hopeful springtime when the days get longer, families gather and tourists arrive for the major Jewish and Christian holidays.

Metal shutters are drawn on nearly all stores in the Old City, home to key holy sites, and only scattered footsteps echo on deserted stone alleyways. Vast plazas are missing the typical throngs of faithful and tourists.

Jerusalem has largely escaped past wars, with Israel's enemies appearing to be hesitant to launch missiles near the city's Muslim holy sites. But since Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, Jerusalem has repeatedly come under fire.

Earlier this month, an intercepted Iranian missile sprayed shrapnel on the rooftop of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, just steps from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, one of the most important sites in Christianity. The church, built on what is revered by many Christians as the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection, remains closed under Israeli military guidelines prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people.

Missile debris also hit a road leading to the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray.

The massive priestly blessing for Passover, which usually draws tens of thousands, will take place with just 50 worshippers. That's the maximum allowed to pray together in the enclosed area by the Western Wall under wartime safety guidelines — reminiscent of the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Latin Patriarchate has canceled a procession on Sunday commemorating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the Christian celebration known as Palm Sunday.

Any other year, tens of thousands of Christians from around the world would walk down the narrow, hilly streets toward the Old City, waving palm fronds and singing.

A local Catholic high school, empty of students as classes have been canceled, was also recently hit by debris from an Iranian missile interception, Asakrieh said.






AP video shot by: Alon Bernstein



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