00:02Palestinian Orthodox Christians gathered at the Greek Orthodox Church at St. Pope P. Rios in Gaza City for a Palm
00:10Sunday service.
00:11It is a fast since a fragile ceasefire was reached in October.
00:15Worshippers lit candles into the church in silence and reverence, and their choir members sang during the Palm Sunday service.
00:25We send a message of peace and love, and we stand in solidarity with our brothers in Jerusalem who have
00:30been prevented from praying.
00:32Due to the current situation, we pray on behalf of them and ourselves.
00:37On this day, we ask for peace and love.
00:40Our numbers are dwindling this year because of our brothers who were martyred in the church bombing.
00:45This Gaza's tiny Palestinian Christian community tried to capture some of the Palm Sunday spirit under a fragile ceasefire.
00:55They remembered others across the Arab world who were deprived of the spirit and sense of peace.
01:03We celebrate this year after the ceasefire, the Orthodox churches, and indeed all churches,
01:09remain closed in Jerusalem, southern Lebanon, and other areas of the Arab and Eastern world.
01:15This is all due to conflicts and political ambitions.
01:19Therefore, we pray to God that peace may prevail throughout the world,
01:23and that all Christians and all people may celebrate these holidays in peace.
01:28Authorities have put limit on the signs of public gatherings due to ongoing missile attacks.
01:33The restrictions, limiting gatherings to only 50 people, have strained relations between Israeli authorities and Christian leaders.
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