Israel Police have been accused of turning Jerusalem's Old City into a "militarised zone" and blocking worshippers from praying over Easter, after violent scuffles broke out near one of Christianity's holiest sites.
Thousands had lined up for hours to attend the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Easter Saturday — a ceremony where priests light candles inside the shrine built over the spot believed to be Jesus's tomb, before passing the candles around the congregation.
But Israeli police had restricted access to the church, erecting barricades and forcing worshippers to enter through only one of the Old City's historic gates.
Video circulating on social media shows police officers pushing and shoving Christians out of the way in the city's narrow streets and laneways.
One officer drew his handgun and brandished it in the face of a Christian scout, before fellow officers stepped in and guided him away.
[EXTERNAL LINK: Instagram video of cup with gun]"To enter the city of Jerusalem, the local Christians here were stopped for about four to five hours at New Gate," Rafi Gattas from the Arabic Catholic Scouts told the ABC.
"Since the war started in Gaza, and since this genocide is happening in Gaza and it's affecting every place here, we can see how the Israeli police are treating all the Palestinians — Christians and Muslims.
"During the holy fire ceremony, in this, one of the holiest days in the year for Christianity, the local Christians of the most holiest city in the world were beaten by the Israeli Police."
Mr Gattas said 6,000 permits had been issued by Israeli authorities for Christians from the West Bank to enter Jerusalem to worship at Easter.
But he said bus loads of Palestinian Christians had been blocked at border crossings from entering despite having that authorisation, and only 500 had been allowed in.
Mr Gattas argued the treatment of Christians was particularly galling, given the extent Israeli Police had tried to open up access to Jewish sites in the Old City during the festival of Passover — which occurred in the days leading up to Easter.
"When it's something for the Jews to come and pray in their own holy places, they will make all the life easier," he said.
"They will close the roads all over Jerusalem, they will try not to have one single problem to let them pray.
"And that's good — let them pray, but let us also pray."
The Orthodox Patriarchate condemned the treatment of worshippers by police, citing the Gospel of Matthew and the verse "blessed are the peacemakers" in its criticism.
"The Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem emphatically condemns the egregious violations that desecrated the sanctity of Jerusalem," it said in a statement.
"Israeli police forces transformed the sacred city into a militarised zone, erecting barriers, obstructing the faithful from reaching their churches, and perpetrating assaults against scouts and worshippers, both locals and pilgrims from around the world.
"These reprehensible actions, which deprived thousands of believers of their divine right to prayer and worship, stand in direct contradiction to Jerusalem's eternal vocation as a city of peace for all the children of God."
The ABC asked Israel Police a series of questions about the allegations by Christians.
It did not directly address those concerns, but said hundreds of extra officers had been deployed to the Old City.
"All of this was done while ensuring the safety and security of those participating in the ceremony, as well as visitors to the Old City," police said in a statement.
"The purpose of the police operation was to provide a safe environment for the thousands of Christians attending the ceremony, ensuring their freedom of worship while maintaining security.
"To ensure public safety and security, crowd control measures were implemented around the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and nearby areas in the Old City."
