Latin Patriarchate files complaint over Israeli settler encroachments on church lands

The Endowment Department of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced on Thursday that it had submitted a formal complaint to Israeli authorities regarding settler encroachments on church-owned land in the Tayasir area of the Tubas governorate in the occupied West Bank. The complaint details attacks against local residents and land belonging to the Latin Patriarchate across several locations.

Israeli authorities take initial measures

In response to the complaint, Israeli authorities began a series of measures, including “pursuing those responsible and seizing heavy machinery used for land destruction and damage at the site,” according to a church statement. During a meeting Wednesday with representatives of Israeli military authorities and the Civil Administration, the department described the settler actions as a “clear violation of Church properties” and demanded the immediate removal of all damage, prevention of future intrusions, and legal protection for Patriarchate lands.

Protecting church properties is a ‘red line’

The department affirmed its support for local residents and its commitment to helping them remain steadfast, protect their dignity, and live in safety. “Protecting Church endowment properties is a red line,” the department stressed, vowing to take all legal and administrative steps to protect their sanctity and defend lawful rights. Since October 2023, settler violence has escalated across the West Bank, with at least 16 Palestinians killed in 2026 and over 1,150 killed since the Gaza war began.