Ramallah: The Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine warned Monday of continued Israeli violence, forced displacement, and persecution targeting Palestinians.
According to Anadolu Agency, the committee expressed grave concern in a letter addressed to church leaders and heads of churches worldwide about the situation faced by Palestinians, particularly Palestinian Christians, across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. The letter, authored by Ramzi Khouri, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee and head of the committee, stressed that attacks against Palestinian Christians should no longer be viewed as isolated incidents.
The letter highlighted that these attacks are part of a systematic pattern involving settler violence, land confiscation, settlement expansion, and restrictions on freedom of worship. Furthermore, the attacks extend to Christian and Muslim holy sites and include threats to clergy, nuns, churches, monasteries, and church properties.
The committee raised alarms over attempts to undermine the historic and legal status quo governing holy sites in Jerusalem, noting that these policies are exerting pressure on Palestinian Christian communities and threatening their longstanding presence in their homeland. Particular concern was directed towards Taybeh village in the West Bank, Palestine's last entirely Christian town, which is experiencing a decline in population due to deteriorating economic conditions and escalating attacks.
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip was also highlighted, with the committee stating that the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is part of a broader reality affecting all Palestinian people. The committee emphasized that the Christian presence is integral to the broader Palestinian cause, asserting that protecting Christian communities is synonymous with protecting Palestinian rights, dignity, and freedom.
Church leaders worldwide were urged by the committee to engage with Palestinian churches, clergy, and theologians, encouraging them to visit Palestine to witness conditions firsthand. The committee welcomed global expressions of solidarity but emphasized the need for this to translate into effective positions and actions.
The committee's message concluded with a call to action for church leaders globally, urging them to transition from expressions of concern to active participation in justice and accountability. The letter included a report documenting violations against Palestinian Christians and urged a shift towards principled action.
The ongoing violence in the West Bank was also mentioned, with Israeli forces intensifying attacks, damaging homes, burning mosques, and preventing farmers from accessing their fields. In Gaza, the aftermath of a ceasefire agreement reached last October was described, highlighting the extensive destruction and significant reconstruction costs estimated at about $70 billion by the UN.