Lebanon: Easter celebrations tarnished by the situation in Gaza and the south of the country

In Lebanon as in the Palestinian Territories, Catholics celebrate Easter this Sunday, March 31, 2024. For the Orthodox, the ceremonies will take place on May 5. But the biggest Christian festival, which remains a strong tradition in the Middle East, is tarnished by the war in Gaza, which has left tens of thousands dead. But also by the fighting in southern Lebanon, bombed by Israel, where at least 68 civilians were killed while Hezbollah struck the Hebrew state.

Mass in a church in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon (illustrative image). AFP - ANWAR AMRO

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With our correspondent in Beirut,

Laure Stephan

The church of the Greek-Melkite Catholic archbishopric of Beirut is full on the eve of Easter, the celebrant priest calls for prayers for the end of the war in

Lebanon

and

Gaza

. The conflict in the Palestinian enclave leaves no one unscathed, says Sister Noura: “ 

When we look at the media and we see hungry children, families, the injured. Yes, our hearts hurt and of course it affects our life from the inside. There are bombs in Lebanon too, but I mean that Easter is always the hope of resurrection, even if we are engulfed by war

. »

“ 

We would have liked the party to take place in more peaceful conditions

 ”

The intensification of strikes on the Lebanese-Israeli border in recent days raises the specter of a vast explosion. In Gaza, the ceasefire voted on Monday March 25 at the UN Security Council remains ineffective. Antoine Achkoury, a faithful: “ 

It’s sad, we would have liked the celebration to take place in more peaceful conditions and for this bloodshed, which makes no sense, to stop. 

»

While the celebrations were taking place, yesterday, Saturday March 30, was marked by new violence at the border.

Read also South Lebanon: three UN soldiers and a Lebanese injured in an explosion attributed to Israel

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