BEIRUT/ISTANBUL

Christians in Lebanon celebrated Holy Saturday by holding masses across the country, Lebanon’s National News Agency NNA reported.

Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi urged the nation “to hold onto hope despite the ongoing crises,” saying: “They had experienced it (hope) even amid destruction, bloodshed and grief.”

Al-Rahi demanded an end to wars, arms trade and abortion during mass in Bkerki. “The world needs bread, not weapons,” he said.

First lady Nehmat Aoun posted a video on X that showed children celebrating in the courtyard of the Presidential Palace in Baabda.

“The laughter of children filled Baabda Palace with the spirit of glorious Easter,” she wrote.

A fragile ceasefire has been in place in Lebanon since November, which ended months of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese resistance group, Hezbollah, which escalated into a full-scale conflict in September.

Lebanese authorities have reported more than 2,742 Israeli violations of the truce, including the deaths of at least 192 victims and injuries to 485.​​​​​​​

Israel was supposed to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon by Jan. 26 under the ceasefire deal, but the deadline was extended to Feb. 18 after Israel refused to comply. It still maintains a military presence at five border outposts.