JERUSALEM, June 25, 2025 (WAFA) –  Israeli authorities reopened the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in occupied Jerusalem this morning, following  a 12-day closure imposed amid heightened military tensions with Iran.

The Jerusalem Governorate stated that the Israeli occupation had lifted the state of emergency that had been in place since the escalation with Iran, leading to the reopening of one of Christianity’s holiest sites.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, located in the heart of the Old City, holds immense religious significance for Christians around the world and is considered one of the most sacred Christian landmarks.

Despite the reopening, Palestinian Christians from the occupied West Bank remain barred from entering Jerusalem to pray at the church or visit their religious sites — for the second consecutive year.

Israeli forces had also sealed off Al-Aqsa Mosque, permitting only its guards and staff from the Islamic Waqf Department to enter. Access to the Old City was restricted solely to its residents, with military checkpoints blocking all other entry, blocking all commercial shops.

Meanwhile, the occupation forces continue to impose strict restrictions on the entry of Muslim worshippers to Al-Aqsa Mosque, particularly on Fridays. Thousands of Palestinians from across the West Bank are denied access to Jerusalem without special Israeli-issued permits.

Y.S