Jerusalem

Türkiye has strongly condemned the raid by fanatical Jewish groups on Masjid al-Aqsa under the protection of the Israeli police.

Israel and Gaza traded heavy fire on Friday but Egyptian mediators launched a new bid to end days of fighting that has killed dozens, all but one of them Palestinian.

The violence has been met with international calls for de-escalation, with the European Union pushing for an "immediate comprehensive ceasefire".

A Palestinian prisoner died in Israeli custody early Tuesday after a hunger strike of nearly three months, Israel's prison service announced.

Orit Pinhasov strongly opposes the Israeli government's proposed judicial overhaul, but you won't find her anywhere near the mass protests against the plan. She says her marriage depends on it.

Pinhasov's husband sits on the opposite side of Israel's political divide, and joining the protests will only deepen what she says already are palpable tensions in her household.

The holiday of Eid al-Fitr ushered in a day of prayers and joy for Muslims around the world on Friday. The celebration was marred by tragedy amid the explosion of conflict in Sudan, while in other countries it came against the backdrop of hopes for a better future.

Day 417 of the invasion of Ukraine. Summary of key events in the last 24 hours:

The Holy Fire arrived in Athens on a special flight from Jerusalem on Thursday evening. Specifically, the delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Katsaniotis received the Holy Fire from the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III and arrived at 8.31 p.m. on an Aegean Airlines flight.

The delegation was met by the Armed Forces Band and an honorary guard.

Thousands of Palestinian Christians and pilgrims from around the world filled Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday to celebrate the Orthodox Holy Light ceremony, under a heavy Israeli police presence that has drawn anger from churches.

A Bulgarian church delegation will go to Jerusalem to bring the Holy Fire for Easter - after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be led by Metropolitan Kiprian of Stara Zagora and is expected to arrive at Sofia Airport around 8 p.m. The Bulgarian church delegation will be the first to take the blessed fire this year.

The annual arrival of the Holy Light in Athens will take place on Holy Saturday (April 15) aboard a special flight conducted by Aegean Airlines from Jerusalem. It will later be shared by airplane with other major cities ahead of church easter services at midnight that day.