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 MEELive@middleeasteye.org
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