Tensions rise at Jerusalem's Holy Fire ritual amidst police restrictions and religious conflicts.

Christian worshippers gathered in Jerusalem's Old City and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate the annual "Holy Fire" ceremony, where a flame is kindled in Jesus' tomb and used to light candles of believers. However, for the second year in a row, crowd size limits were imposed, leading to minor scuffles between police and worshippers. Israel has capped the ritual to 1,800 people due to safety concerns, but church leaders allege that Israel is infringing on Christians' freedom of worship. The Greek Orthodox patriarchate has called on all worshippers to flood the church despite Israeli warnings.