Palestinians pray at Gaza church

A vast crowd staged a sit-in in the courtyard of the Church of the Resurrection in al-Quds in solidarity with the people of Gaza, Maan reported.

They prayed for the Palestinian people led by Archbishop Atallah Hanna, the Archbishop of the Roman Orthodox Church, who delivered a speech calling for the lifting of the siege on the coastal strip.

"We in al-Quds stand with our people in the Gaza Strip and call for the lifting of the blockade against our people there. Our solidarity is with the people of Gaza who are suffering from tragic, harsh and difficult circumstances with the ongoing siege imposed on them and the continuous targeting of humans, stones and even the trees," he said.

The archbishop questioned the legitimacy of blockading more than one and a half million people in Gaza, denying them access to electricity, food and medicines.

"What right have they (Israelis) to isolate our people in Gaza as if they were prisoners in a big prison," he said.

"We appeal to our friends anywhere to do their humanitarian duty towards our people besieged in Gaza," he added.