Empty Easter in Jerusalem: Palestinian Christians shut out of holy sites | Oborne Unscripted

“It’s Easter… when you would expect tens of thousands of pilgrims. This year it’s completely empty.” Peter Oborne reports from Jerusalem, where access to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been restricted, and the Old City has been effectively shut down during one of the most important moments in the Christian calendar. Shopkeepers say the closure has devastated their livelihoods, with businesses left empty during what is normally their busiest season. “No business, no tourists… no money, no honey.” Residents describe a reality where movement is tightly controlled, and entire areas can be sealed off. “One soldier can close the whole city.” Just a few hundred metres away, shopping areas in West Jerusalem remain busy — highlighting what Oborne describes as a system of unequal access and treatment. He says the closures are not only affecting worship, but are also deepening economic hardship and raising fears about the future of Palestinian Christians in the city. CHAPTERS 00:00 – “One soldier can close the whole city” 00:12 – Near the Holy Sepulchre: police restrictions 00:23 – Empty Easter at Christianity’s holiest site 01:42 – Holy Sepulchre closed and access blocked 03:06 – Moved on by police, and “security” claims questioned 03:36 – Restrictions around the church 04:36 – Old City emptied during Easter 05:40 – Legal status and control over holy sites 07:12 – Old souq: closed shops and no pilgrims 07:52 – “No business, no tourists… no money, no honey” 08:36 – Shopkeepers and economic hardship 09:06 – “One soldier can close the whole city” 09:49 – Daily life under restrictions 10:26 – Residents on international response 11:37 – The contrast: busy mall vs empty Old City 12:10 – “One set of laws” and unequal access 12:40 – Ending: exclusion, hardship and fear for the future Support stories that matter. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR0fZh5SBxxMNYdg0VzRFkg/join Catch previous episodes of MEE LIVE, our biweekly news programme exploring the stories shaping our world through breaking coverage, expert analysis, and hard-hitting interviews. Originally airing Tuesdays & Thursdays at 12pm ET | 5pm BST Got a story tip or question? Reach us at [email protected] Subscribe to our channel: http://ow.ly/AVlW30n1OWH Subscribe to MEE Telegram channel to stay up to date: https://t.me/MiddleEastEye_TG Middle East Eye Website: https://middleeasteye.net Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeasteye Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/MiddleEastEye Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/MiddleEastEye Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye