RAMALLAH, April 11, 2026 (WAFA) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his hope on Saturday that Easter would mark a new beginning filled with hope, and that peace and love would prevail in Palestine and the world.

This came in a message he addressed to Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All the Holy Land and Jordan, and to the representatives of the council and priests of St. James Orthodox Cathedral, the head of the community, and the members of the Arab Orthodox parish, on the occasion of Easter.

He stated that the Palestinian people cherish life and their homeland, and hold religious holidays in high regard. He affirmed that they will commemorate this cherished religious occasion with steadfast hope and faith in God and in their legitimate rights, despite the escalating violations of the occupation, including settlement expansion, settler violence, land confiscation and seizure, economic restrictions, the isolation of the holy city, restrictions on worship at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Cathedral of Saint James to worshippers, depriving them of their sacred right to pray, especially during religious holidays.

He stressed that these assaults and violations will not succeed in altering the historical and legal status of Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city of Jerusalem, and that they will not be accepted by the Palestinian people or the international community.

He expressed his hope for a complete cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people, and a return to normalcy there. He expressed hope that the recovery and reconstruction phase would begin, through Palestinian, Arab, and international efforts, leading to the unification of the two parts of the wounded homeland and a political solution based on international law that ends the occupation and establishes an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said: “On this day, Good Friday, the path of suffering endured by our people is embodied. However, this holy occasion instills in us confidence in the triumph of truth and justice, and the eradication of injustice, God willing.”

The President also praised the positions and message of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem on this occasion, considering their message a call for justice, peace, love, and human brotherhood.

He further called on churches around the world to stand by the legitimate Palestinian cause and to support their brethren in the land of the Resurrection and the Isra, so that they may work together to bring peace to the region and the world, and to preserve the authentic Christian presence in their homeland, leading ultimately to freedom, independence, and peace for all.

Y.S