Palestinian Church Committee warns of threats to Christian existence

The Palestinian Presidential Committee for Church Affairs has issued a formal message to global church leaders, warning that escalating violence, forced displacement, and persecution are threatening the existence of Palestinian Christians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

Led by Ramzi Khoury, the committee stated that attacks against clergy, nuns, churches, and monasteries are no longer isolated incidents but part of a continuous pattern of settler violence and land seizure. The committee highlighted the town of Taybeh, noted as the last entirely Christian town in Palestine, which is experiencing a painful population decline. Since 2023, an increasing number of Christian families have been forced to leave the region due to economic deterioration, restrictions, and a lack of political prospects.

The message emphasizes that the Christian cause is inseparable from the broader Palestinian cause, asserting that protecting the Christian presence is tied to protecting the rights and dignity of all Palestinians. The committee urged international religious leaders to visit Palestine to witness the reality firsthand and called for moving beyond expressions of sympathy toward practical actions to defend holy sites and human rights.